Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians, Match 13 Match Summary

That's a wrap from Guwahati - It's been a long day, we know. But a highly entertaining and engaging one for sure. Rajasthan Royals are crowned at the top with three wins in as many games, with the Orange and Purple Cap belonging to them as well. For the Mumbai Indians, it's two defeats on the trot in away games, and they have a lot to think about and work on before their next assignment. Up next, action moves back to the national capital as the Delhi Capitals take on the Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. DC are yet to lose a game, and GT are searching for their first points. That should be a cracker of a game as well. It will be played on Wednesday, 8th April, with the first ball scheduled to be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). Let's hope the weather stays clear, and we get a full game of cricket there. Do join us in advance for the build-up. Until then, we sign off. Take care, cheers!

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Rajasthan Royals' Yashasvi Jaiswal receives the award for his blazing 77* off 32 balls. Reflecting on his knock, Jaiswal says he had a clear plan going into the Powerplay. Details that with only three overs to work with, his mind was already racing through which bowler he could target and go after. On switching between formats, he admits it is anything but easy, but says thorough preparation is what keeps him on top of it. He adds he is always working on adding new shots, always thinking about which shot works on which surface. Preparation, he says, has consistently been his biggest ally. When asked whether he plans his approach in advance, Jaiswal says it is less about rigid planning and more about reading the situation in the moment. Mentions that he is always thinking about what the team needs and adjusts his game accordingly. He is all praise about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, saying the way the youngster has been playing is nothing short of tremendous. Adds that watching him work so hard is motivating, and it pushes him to keep developing his own game. Shares that they both are constantly in conversation, talking through plans and encouraging each other to play freely. As for whether he plays the big brother figure, Jaiswal is quick to dismiss it. Says that Vaibhav understands the game very well and is more than capable of handling himself incredibly well.

Proud of the team - The victorious captain of the Rajasthan Royals, Riyan Parag says he could not have asked for more from the boys. He praises the way the team has shown up and hopes they can continue performing like this. Parag says he has always believed they are a strong side with a solid Indian core. Shares that the message to Jofra Archer and Nandre Burger has been to go out there and bowl as fast as possible. Riyan opines that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal are among the best going around right now. Adds that they have age on their side. He states that Vaibhav is not a one-dimensional slogger, while Jaiswal has been performing consistently for years.

... It is time for the Presentation ceremony ...

Here's the PURPLE CAP holder - RR's Ravi Bishnoi says he is really happy to wear the Purple Cap. He admits that it keeps rotating through the league stage. On what he is doing differently from the last season, Bishnoi replies that he has consciously worked on his lengths. On missing lengths while varying pace and adapting to conditions, he accepts that it happens. He says cricket has become a batter's game, with good pitches, heavier bats, all working against the bowlers. In that environment, he says, varying lengths and pace is the only way to put batters under pressure, even if just occasionally. He adds that the team chemistry under Riyan Parag has been excellent. Adds that being in the same age group helps them understand each other naturally. Signs off on a confident note, saying everything has gone well so far and that execution, whether as a bowler or a batter, is what makes the game feel easier on certain days.

The sun will rise again tomorrow - The captain of the Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya, admits they did not execute well in the Powerplay. He says the bowlers need to take responsibility and that the performance was not up to the mark, while also giving credit to RR for batting well. Hardik mentions that he would not put this down to the batting. Reckons that in T20 cricket, it often comes down to getting a couple of balls right with the ball. Further says that the margin of 27 runs could have been bridged with five better deliveries, which might have meant five fewer sixes. HP admits that the RR openers took the game away early, leaving them to play catch-up from there. The MI skipper says it is fascinating to watch Vaibhav Sooryavanshi bat and wishes him good luck. Pandya says it is about learning from the mistakes. He adds that tomorrow is a new day, and the focus will be on preparing well for the next game.

Rutherford's counterattack, all in vain - With wickets falling like nine-pins, MI threw the last roll on the dice by bringing in Sherfane Rutherford as the Impact sub. Rutherford did launch a strong counterattack, smashing a breezy 25 off just 8 balls, but with him and Dhir falling at the most inopportune time, MI just surrendered in the end. The bowlers of Rajasthan Royals hunted in a pack, with Burger, Sandeep, and the impact sub, Bishnoi, picking up two apiece and crashing MI's party in style.

A sloppy start in pursuit - 46/5 in five overs. That was the wreckage Mumbai Indians were left staring at before the chase had barely drawn breath. Rickelton, Rohit, SKY, Hardik, Tilak - all gone in a heap, one after another. The ball was keeping low, skidding through quickly, and the RR bowlers exploited every bit of it with sharp, disciplined execution. Mistimed hit after mistimed hit, every time the batters took the aerial route, they found a fielder instead.

Sooryavanshi-Jaiswal wreak havoc in Guwahati - If Guwahati was hit with rain and thunderstorms earlier, it was the RR hurricane that blew the Mumbai Indians bowling apart. One of the most anticipated battles coming into this game was Bumrah vs the 15-year-old, and the latter won it handsomely. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi just went berserk over the MI bowlers, smashing sixes at will before his fun was eventually stopped. But Yashasvi Jaiswal had no intention of letting up, blazing 77 off just 32 to help the Royals post a mammoth 150. From MI's end, it was a night to forget. Their premier bowlers went searching for swing and got punished every time they erred. Hardik bowled tidily, while Ghazanfar picked up two, but the rest were taken apart. Bumrah did try to deceive the batters through his variations, but found little success.

The Royals defend their fort - It was a long and frustrating wait with the weather playing its tricks. But when the game started, all it offered was a sure-shot entertainment from start to finish. An aggregate of 273 runs in 22 overs. Surely, it was a game worth every penny. Rajasthan Royals have outclassed the mighty Mumbai Indians to make it three wins in three matches, which takes them to the top of the points table.

Rajasthan Royals complete a comprehensive win to make it three in three. Jofra lands it on a hard length, outside off. Chahar stands tall and throws the kitchen sink at it. Slices it off the outer half and it goes towards deep point. Shimron Hetmyer seemed to have lost the ball in the lights and did not commit to the catch. He hangs back and gathers the ball on the bounce. The batters cross for a single. Archer wanted a better effort from Shimron.

Archer bangs it in short but takes pace off, on middle. Bumrah mistimes the pull in front of deep mid-wicket for a run.

FOUR! Cleverly done! On a hard length, over off. Bumrah rises with the bounce and gets his hands high. He uses the pace on the ball and glides it to the left of backward point for a boundary.

Nice and full, attacking the stumps. Deepak firms the drive down to long on for a single.

Pace off, on a back of a length, on middle. Chahar swings across for the pull but connects with thin air.

Jasprit Bumrah is the last man in for MI.

OUT! TRENT BOULT IS RUN OUT! Archer hits the bullseye. Nails the yorker, at the base of the middle stump. Boult drops his bat down hurriedly and jams it out beside the strip on the leg side. The two batters set off for the run and Jofra swiftly moves to his right on the follow-through. He picks the ball up, turns around and scores a direct hit at the bowling end with Boult well short.

Last over to go. Mumbai Indians will try to get as many runs as possible from this one, keeping their net run rate in mind. Also, Rajasthan Royals are penalised for a slow-over rate. Meaning, an extra fielder will have to be fielded inside the inner circle. Jofra Archer (1-0-10-1) to bowl the final over.

FOUR! Gets it away! On the shorter side, Deepak gets the width to work with and he flays it over backward point for a boundary.

Full and on middle, this is smeared to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Nelson strikes. Trent Boult is the new batter in at number 10.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Wicket number two for Sandeep Sharma. This is the leg-cutter, on a good length, on middle. Thakur looks to go big on the leg side and has a swipe across the line. He closes the bat face early and the ball gets skied off the top edge beside the strip on the off side. The keeper, Dhruv Jurel, calls for it, runs forward and takes the catch.

The Rajasthan Royals have dominated this game from the very first ball of the chase. They have been spot on with their lines and lengths.

Wide! Sprayed beyond the wide tramline on off. Thakur does not offer a shot.

Good effort! Sandeep keeps it around the off stump, on a length. Shardul launches it down the ground. Yashasvi Jaiswal at long off is a bit wide and sprints to his right. He stretches his right hand out to push the ball away from the fence and the converging long on fielder mops it up. A couple of runs for Shardul.

Fair delivery! A review taken by the Royals to challenge the wide given call by the umpire. An off cutter, on a length, wide outside off. Thakur flashes, only to miss. The ball is clearly passing within the revised guideline. So the on-field decision is overturned.

Wide! Down leg, low full toss. Shardul swishes at it but does not connect.

A big swing and a miss! Sandeep rolls his fingers over the ball and bowls it full, outside off. Thakur does not pick the change and swings early. He ends up missing.

Right. Last 2 overs to go. Mumbai Indians need 44 runs with 3 wickets in hand. Sandeep Sharma (2-0-17-1) to bowl the penultimate.

FOUR LEG BYES! MI will take it any way they come. Slightly too straight, on a length, on the pads. Chahar walks inside the line and lifts his front leg to play the glance. The ball clips his pads and races down to deep fine leg for a boundary.