Rohit Sharma Falls Early as Stoinis’ Fiery Celebration Goes Viral; MI Post 203 in Rain-Hit Qualifier 2
Rohit Sharma, who had impressed with a crucial 81-run innings in the IPL 2025 Eliminator against Gujarat Titans, was unable to replicate that form in Qualifier 2 against Punjab Kings.
In Sunday’s match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Rohit was dismissed cheaply, managing only four runs.
The Mumbai Indians skipper attempted to flick Marcus Stoinis, only to be caught at deep backward square leg. Stoinis celebrated the wicket passionately, thumping his chest in what became a viral moment online.
Mumbai Post Competitive 203 After Rain Delay
Despite an early blow with Rohit’s wicket, Mumbai Indians managed to post a solid 203 for six in their 20 overs. The match had started nearly two hours and 15 minutes late due to rain, but no overs were lost.
Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma anchored the innings with 44 runs each, while Naman Dhir’s late 33 off 18 balls helped MI breach the 200-run mark.
Bairstow contributed 38 runs at the top, maintaining the momentum after Rohit’s dismissal. The batting unit delivered a collective performance, adapting well to Punjab’s bowling strategy of taking pace off the ball.
Rohit’s Luck Runs Out After Consecutive Lives in Eliminator
Just two days prior, Rohit had capitalised on two dropped chances in the Eliminator to notch a match-winning 81.
In contrast, during Qualifier 2, he was granted another early life when Azmatullah Omarzai dropped a difficult catch while running behind from short third man.
However, Rohit couldn’t make it count this time, as he mistimed a pull shot in the next over, gifting Stoinis a breakthrough.
Stoinis Strikes with Tactical Brilliance
Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer made a surprising decision by giving Marcus Stoinis the third over despite the absence of key pacer Marco Jansen.
With frontline seamers limited to Arshdeep Singh and Kyle Jamieson, the move to bowl Stoinis early paid off immediately.
Stoinis delivered a short ball that Rohit tried to dispatch but ended up hitting to Vyshak Vijaykumar at deep square leg.
The Australian all-rounder’s animated celebration captured the high stakes of the match and the importance of the dismissal.
MI Maintain Aggression Despite Early Blow
Even after Rohit’s early departure, Mumbai Indians maintained an aggressive run rate. Jonny Bairstow and Tilak Varma stitched together a 51-run partnership in just under six overs, helping MI recover quickly.
Bairstow found gaps on either side of the wicket, while Tilak struck a powerful six off just his second delivery.
Mumbai sustained a scoring rate of 10 runs per over throughout the innings, keeping the pressure on Punjab’s bowlers. Punjab tried using slower short balls, especially through Jamieson, but the MI batsmen handled the variations with class.
Rain Disrupts Start, But Full Match Played
The second Qualifier between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians was heavily delayed due to rain. After Punjab won the toss and chose to field, showers interrupted the proceedings. Fortunately, play began at 9:45 PM IST without any overs being lost.
Mumbai’s Late Surge Pushes Total Beyond 200
Naman Dhir’s cameo in the final overs added the finishing touches to Mumbai’s innings.
His 33 from 18 deliveries came at a critical juncture, lifting the score past the psychological 200-run mark. MI’s strong finish gave them a slight edge going into the second innings.
Strategic Decisions Define Qualifier 2
Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy stood out for making bold calls in the absence of key bowlers. His decision to bring on Stoinis early changed the course of the match momentarily.
Though MI still managed to post a strong total, the breakthrough was crucial in curbing a potentially explosive start.
On the other hand, Mumbai showed resilience after losing their opener early. Their batting line-up adapted well to the delayed conditions and Punjab’s bowling tactics.
