IPL 2025: MI Ends DC's Winning Streak with a Nail-Biting 12-Run Victory

New Delhi, April 13 (NationPress) It seemed improbable that Mumbai Indians could secure a win at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Sunday, especially when Delhi Capitals were cruising at 113/1 halfway through the game.

However, with Karn Sharma (3-36) and Mitchell Santner (2-36) claiming five wickets collectively, and with exceptional fielding, MI orchestrated an incredible comeback to triumph by 12 runs, marking only their second win this season and putting a halt to DC’s winning streak.

After Tilak Varma scored 59, his second fifty of the season, MI posted a formidable total of 205/5. Karun Nair, making his first IPL appearance this season, dazzled with a remarkable 89 as an impact player, making victory seem effortless for DC. But losing five wickets in just six overs, including Karun’s after the tenth over, brought MI back into contention.

Despite threats from Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam to stage another dramatic finish for DC, their subpar batting combined with MI’s outstanding fielding and bowling efforts, alongside a ball change after the 13th over, led to the hosts being bowled out for 193 in 19 overs.

DC’s chase began on a sour note as Jake Fraser-McGurk fell on the very first ball, chipping to cover off Deepak Chahar. Karun aggressively took on Trent Boult, striking three exquisite fours – a cover drive, a crisp cut shot, and another glorious drive. MI’s decision to introduce Jasprit Bumrah didn’t yield the expected results as Karun lofted him over cover for a boundary, before slicing another between cover and point.

As Karun slashed Chahar for DC’s fifty in just the fifth over, Bumrah again faced the wrath as Karun elegantly lofted him for four, followed by a brace that brought up his fifty in just 22 balls. Karun’s fireworks continued as he scooped Hardik Pandya for six, followed by another maximum from Karn.

Hardik faced another onslaught as Karun slashed and heaved him for four and six, respectively. But soon after, MI’s resurgence began. Abishek Porel slog-swept Karn to deep square leg. Though Karun was still scoring with reverse laps and perfect sweeps, Mitchel Santner turned one past his outside edge, dismissing him for 89.

Recognizing an opportunity, MI reintroduced Bumrah, who quickly took out Axar Patel. They soon benefited from a ball change as Tristan Stubbs was caught at long-on off Karn, and KL Rahul top-edged a sweep into Karn’s hands.

With 42 runs required off 24 balls, Boult bowled five yorkers, conceding only three runs in the 17th over. Following this, Santner bowled the 18th over, where Nigam targeted him with a six, but Santner had the last laugh by stumping Nigam for 14. Ashutosh kept the excitement alive with consecutive fours off Bumrah, but chaos ensued as he, Kuldeep Yadav, and Mohit Sharma were all run out on successive balls, sealing a memorable win for MI.

Previously, all MI batters, except for captain Hardik Pandya, had made contributions, but only Varma led with 59 off 33 balls, with 22 runs from the mid-wicket area. Naman Dhir supported him well, scoring 38 not out towards the end. For DC, apart from Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, all bowlers were costly.

Ryan Rickleton started strong, flicking and driving for runs, while also hitting a massive six over mid-wicket. Rohit Sharma got into his groove, hitting a six off a top-edge scoop; a neat square drive followed with a lofted drive, as 19 runs came off the third over.

DC struck when Rohit was trapped lbw attempting to slog sweep Nigam. Giving Mukesh a third power-play over proved unwise as Rickleton pulled him for four, with Suryakumar Yadav hitting his trademark flick for six, as MI ended the power-play at 59/1.

However, Rickleton couldn’t convert his promising start into a big score as Kuldeep Yadav’s googly sent his middle stump flying. With Tilak hitting boundaries through pull shots, reverse sweeps, and lofted punches, Suryakumar showcased a masterclass in sweeping against Kuldeep, Axar, and Nigam.

But DC struck in consecutive overs, slowing MI’s momentum – Suryakumar was caught at long-off on a googly from Kuldeep, while Pandya suffered the same fate at the hands of Nigam. Nonetheless, Varma spearheaded MI’s resurgence with boundaries, bringing up his fifty in just 26 balls.

With Naman Dhir and Tilak hitting Mohit for a four each, MI seemed set to breach the 200-mark. This was further boosted when Dhir hit Starc for consecutive fours, and Tilak sliced over third man for a boundary.

Tilak received a lucky break on 54 when Mukesh and Ashutosh Sharma collided while trying to catch him. Although Tilak was eventually dismissed, MI had comfortably crossed the 200-mark, which proved vital for their much-needed victory.

Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 205/5 in 20 overs (Tilak Varma 59, Ryan Rickleton 41; Kuldeep Yadav 2-23, Vipraj Nigam 2-41) beat Delhi Capitals 193 all out in 19 overs (Karun Nair 89, Abishek Porel 33; Karn Sharma 3-36, Mitchell Santner 2-43) by 12 runs