News Summary in 10 Bullet Points:
- Rohit Sharma returned to form in style, smashing an unbeaten 76 off 45 balls to lead Mumbai Indians (MI) to a nine-wicket win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the Wankhede Stadium.
- Rohit partnered with Suryakumar Yadav for an unbroken 114-run stand, ensuring a comfortable chase and earning himself the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
- Despite a prolonged lean patch, including India’s Test series loss to New Zealand, Rohit said he “never doubted” himself and credited hard practice and mental clarity for his comeback.
- Rohit struck four fours and six sixes in his classy knock, showcasing a perfect blend of aggression and control, stating he focused on “holding the shape” and “trusting the arc”.
- The Wankhede crowd had extra reason to cheer, with a stand at the stadium set to be named after Rohit, who called the gesture a “huge honour” considering his roots at the venue.
- Mumbai Indians climbed to sixth in the points table with their third consecutive win, building crucial momentum midway through the IPL season.
- MI captain Hardik Pandya backed Rohit throughout his slump, saying the team always believed in him and knew it was just a matter of time before he delivered.
- Pandya praised the team’s strategy of playing ‘percentage cricket’, avoiding flashy tactics and focusing on solid execution, especially under pressure.
- CSK captain MS Dhoni admitted his team was “below par”, pointing to poor execution in both innings and missed chances to accelerate during their batting.
- With just two wins from eight games, CSK now face an uphill battle for playoff qualification, and Dhoni hinted at experimenting with combinations for the next season if they don’t make the cut.