In their first home fixture of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Mumbai Indians (MI) are clashing with Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Mumbai’s iconic Wankhede Stadium on Monday, April 1. After winning the toss, Rajasthan’s skipper Sanju Samson opted to field first, choosing to test Mumbai’s batting lineup early on. However, Mumbai’s innings commenced on a somber note as Trent Boult, Rajasthan’s pace spearhead, made an immediate impact as he picked the crucial wicket of Rohit Sharma.
Trent Boult’s deceptive delivery to remove Rohit Sharma for a duck
On the fifth delivery of the opening over, Rohit, just facing his first ball of the innings, was confronted with a scrambled-seam delivery by Boult. Pitched on a length and landing around the off stump, it skillfully navigated through the channel. This deceptive movement caught Rohit off guard, breaching his straight-bat defense and eliciting an outside edge. Despite the delivery’s low trajectory, wicketkeeper Samson showcased exceptional reflexes, swiftly diving to his right to secure the catch with precision.
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Adding to Mumbai’s woes, Boult inflicted more damage by dismissing Naman Dhir on the subsequent delivery. Using an in-swinging delivery, he managed to trap Dhir in front of the stumps, leaving MI in a dire situation at 1/2 at the conclusion of the opening over.
Here’s the video:
.@rajasthanroyals’ Lethal Start 🔥
They run through #MI’s top order courtesy Trent Boult & Nandre Burger 👏
After 7 overs, it is 58/4
Watch the match LIVE on @JioCinema and @StarSportsIndia 💻📱#TATAIPL | #MIvRR pic.twitter.com/mEUocuD0EV
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 1, 2024
A Thunder Boult has struck thrice at Wankhede stadium ⚡⚡⚡#MIvRR #TATAIPL #IPLonJioCinema pic.twitter.com/p4si6CEuaC
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) April 1, 2024
Rohit’s unwanted record and Boult’s powerplay mastery
In an unfortunate turn of events, Rohit’s dismissal early in the innings led him to equal the unwanted record for the most ducks in IPL history, tallying his 17th score of zero in the competition, thereby drawing level with Dinesh Karthik of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) Meanwhile, Boult’s remarkable feat of snaring 25 wickets in the opening over of an innings since 2020 remains unmatched, showcasing his prowess in the powerplay phase. Boult’s penchant for early breakthroughs has been pivotal to his team’s success, cementing his status as a potent threat in the tournament.