/betbarter/media/agency_attachments/3YXcMKaocLoKtpo5Mw2o.png)
/betbarter/media/post_banners/4xFgJE55kOq9X2lWqQKh.jpg)
Rohit Sharma
Defending Champions Mumbai Indians lost the opening match of IPL 2021 against RCB. Despite the loss, MI skipper Rohit Sharma stated that winning the tournament is more important than the first game. RCB pacer Harshal Patel delivered a stunning bowling performance before AB de Villiers' masterclass helped the Royals defeat Mumbai Indians by two wickets. Patel had claimed five wickets to restrict Mumbai Indians to 159 runs in the allotted 20 overs. On the other end, Rohit Sharma admitted that his side was 20 runs short of the par score.
Both teams struggled to get going in the middle overs, and the Mumbai Indians captain felt that the wicket wasn't an easy one to bat on. Interestingly, Mumbai Indians have turned things around considerably since the 2013 edition itself. They have won five championships in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, respectively but haven't managed to break the tradition of losing their opening games in a new IPL season.
AB was brilliant and got them home: Rohit Sharma
Defending only a modest score of 160 runs against Kohli & Co., Rohit's MI team gave a tough fight before going down on the last ball. Despite the intense battle, the Mumbai-based outfit remained winless in their opening match in a row since 2013. Rohit Sharma got off to a positive start before being run out by his partner Chris Lynn (49). Lynn, later on, recovered from a shaky start to put on a 70-run stand with Suryakumar Yadav. Mumbai Indians were 83/1 after nine overs. They lost their way in the middle overs as Kyle Jamieson (1/27) made an impressive debut.
On the other end, Bangalore made a fast start to their innings. However, they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. South African batsman AB de Villiers slammed 48 runs in 27 balls. He helped RCB win the first game after they lost quick wickets in the 160-run chase. But it was Harshal Patel who scored the winning run after Villiers was run out in the last over. Harshal Patel was also the man of the match as he picked up five wickets of Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, and Marco Jensen. Mumbai Indians will play their next game against two-time winners Kolkata Knight Riders at Chepauk.