New Delhi, April 18 (NationPress) Following the Mumbai Indians' impressive four-wicket triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2025, former South African cricketer Mark Boucher is confident that a substantial score from Rohit Sharma is imminent, noting that he seems ready to deliver a match-winning performance.

During the chase of 163 runs at the Wankhede Stadium, Rohit scored 26 runs off 16 deliveries, hitting three sixes, indicating his intent to play a significant innings. Unfortunately, he was dismissed in the powerplay after a catch to cover off Pat Cummins. Nonetheless, MI successfully completed the chase in the 19th over, marking their second consecutive win in IPL 2025.

“Rohit Sharma really took the initiative to target the bowlers. We witnessed some classic Rohit Sharma sixes – quite impressive ones. I appreciated his mindset. He applied pressure on the bowlers, crafting scoring chances. Just as he approached the 30-run mark, a big score is on the horizon. He’s back in that zone,” remarked Boucher on JioStar.

The standout performer for MI against SRH on a challenging pitch was all-rounder Will Jacks, who took 2 wickets for just 14 runs in three overs and was the top scorer with 36 runs off 26 balls. “Will Jacks has felt the strain and hasn’t quite met his expectations at the start of the tournament. However, he’s exceptional – a true all-rounder, not merely a part-time spinner,” he added.

“His bowling was commendable, securing vital wickets. This will surely boost his batting confidence – he must feel he’s made a contribution. There’s every reason for him to maintain this momentum and achieve remarkable feats like he has with various franchises and for England,” Boucher continued.

Boucher concluded by discussing Hardik Pandya's performance, where he recorded figures of 1-42 with the ball, placing him second in the Purple Cap standings, followed by a quick-fire 21 runs off nine balls. “Hardik Pandya is among the finest all-rounders globally. When he’s at his best, the team typically prevails.”

“I admire his evolving role with the ball – not just bowling in the powerplay, but also during the challenging middle overs, the 'ugly overs'. He’s securing wickets there too, which is boosting his confidence and showing in his batting, where he’s stepping in to finish games.”

MI now aims to achieve a hat-trick of victories against MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in an exciting showdown at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday evening.