The Wankhede That Wasn’t—Slow, Sticky, and Oh-So-Strange
Let’s be real—Wankhede is supposed to be a batter’s paradise, right? The kind of pitch where 200+ is a given and bowlers just pray to survive. But Thursday night threw us a total curveball.
Instead of fireworks, we got friction. The ball gripped. It turned. And it made even the likes of Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen look human.
But guess who loved it?
Mumbai Indians. They read the surface like a pro poker player reading a table—and they didn’t blink.
Will Jacks: The Englishman Who Played Like a Local
Here’s a name MI fans won’t forget anytime soon—Will Jacks.
This lad wasn’t just good. He was match-defining.
- With the ball: 3 overs, 2 wickets, just 14 runs.
- With the bat: A composed 36 off 26 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes.
The guy bowled with the cunning of an old-school offie and batted like he knew the pitch had finally calmed down. His partnership with Suryakumar Yadav—52 runs off just 29 balls—was the turning point.
He didn’t just play the game. He understood it.
Opening Fireworks: Rohit & Rickelton Bring the Buzz
Remember that electric MI vibe when the openers just go berserk? We got a taste of it again, thanks to:
- Rohit Sharma: 26 off 16 (including three massive sixes—classic Hitman mode).
- Ryan Rickelton: 31 off 23 (those cuts and flicks? Chef’s kiss).
They laid the perfect foundation. And though wickets fell in patches, the momentum never really dropped.
SKY, Pandya & Tilak: The Finishing Artists
After the openers and Jacks set it up, MI’s middle order got the job done.
- Suryakumar Yadav played like a man in a hurry: 26 off 15.
- Hardik Pandya finally found his rhythm, smashing 21 off just 9 balls. The intent? Loud and clear.
- And Tilak Varma, calm as a monk, guided the chase home with a measured 21* off 17—finishing it off with a cheeky paddle sweep for four. That shot? Pure class.
Their partnership of 34 runs in just 17 balls sealed the deal, ensuring MI didn’t panic even when Cummins was breathing fire.
Speaking of Cummins… He Was Brilliant Too
Let’s give it up for Pat Cummins, shall we?
3 for 26 in four overs on that kind of surface? That’s elite. He picked up key wickets, kept SRH in the game, and showed why he’s worth every rupee they spent at the auction.
But unfortunately for him, it just wasn’t enough.
SRH’s Batting: All Spark, No Fire
Honestly, SRH’s innings felt like watching a sports car stuck in traffic.
They had the power—Abhishek Sharma gave them a nice start, Klaasen found a few late blows, and Aniket Varma looked promising.
But the rhythm? Totally off.
They never really recovered from MI’s strangling tactics. Slower balls, spin in the middle overs, and tight fielding suffocated every big shot attempt. Even their late surge only pushed them to 162, a score that felt 20-25 runs too short.
What This Match Told Us
- Will Jacks is a serious all-round asset: MI’s best X-factor this season?
- Wankhede can surprise you: Even flat decks have secrets.
- MI’s batting depth is scary: Everyone’s clicking at the right time.
- SRH need to figure out their plan B: Power-hitting works only when the surface plays ball.
Everything You’re Wondering About
Q1: Why was the Wankhede pitch so different this time?
Unseasonal moisture under the red soil made the ball grip and hold, making strokeplay unusually tricky in the first innings.
Q2: Who was the real game-changer for MI?
Without a doubt, Will Jacks. His all-round performance sealed both halves of the game.
Q3: Is Hardik Pandya finally finding form?
Signs are promising. His 21 off 9 showed a renewed aggressiveness and clarity in his role.
Q4: Can SRH bounce back from this?
Absolutely. They’ve got the firepower—but they’ll need more adaptability on slower pitches.
Comeback We’ve Been Waiting For?
If this match was a movie, it had all the right ingredients—a tricky plot twist (the pitch), an unlikely hero (Jacks), a vintage cameo (Rohit), and a happy ending (for MI fans, at least).
It wasn’t just a win. It was a statement. Mumbai Indians aren’t just back—they're starting to look dangerous again.
