Page 46 - The Indian EYE 042222

SpORTS APRIL 22, 2022 | The Indian Eye 46

IPL 2022

Mayank roars to form, Rohit smashes

records and teams deal with Bumrah

As the season gets into full flow, we bring to you all the action on and off the field

s Punjab Kings stepped out Kohli (10379) and Australia’s David
to bat in the Indian Premier Warner (10373).
ALeague 2022 match against rr are FIVe tIMes Better
Mumbai Indians on Wednesday, all
eyes were on skipper Mayank Agar- now: graeMe swann
wal. Former England spinner
With scores of 1, 4 and 5 in the Graeme Swann is mighty impressed
previous three games, the PBKS with the way Rajasthan Royals have
opener knew he had to step up with played in the IPL 2022.
the bat against the five-time IPL Swann believes that the side led
Champions to set up the platform for by Sanju Samson looks five times bet-
his team. The right-handed batsman ter than it was in the previous season.
showed his intent straightaway in the Royals are currently placed at the top
match, hitting Mumbai Indians pac- of the points table with three wins in
er Basil Thampi for a boundary past four games in the IPL 2022. While
point on the first ball of the match. It speaking on ‘Cricket Live’ on Star
was just the beginning. Sports, Swann said Rajasthan Royals
Mayank went on to maintain a are playing very good cricket at the
strike rate of over 100 throughout moment.
his innings and then took the charge “They look five times better than
in the 97-run opening stand with they were last year. They’ve done
Shikhar Dhawan. The right-handed very well at the auctions (to put to-
batsman smashed 52 runs in 32 balls gether a strong side).”
at a mammoth strike rate of 162.50 Former England cricketer Nick
to help Punjab Kings take control of Knight also felt Rajasthan Royals is
the match. His brilliant batting per- a very strong side as they have got all
formance helped PBKS in posting a the resources to produce a clinical
solid total of 198/5 in 20 overs, setting show in the IPL 2022.
up a tricky target for the Mumbai In- Knight said, “Rajasthan Royals
dians to chase at their home ground. have got most of their bases covered.
The target proved to be too I love the way they start with the new
high for MI to chase and they could ball. I love the way they can start with
only muster 186/9 in reply, losing the Punjab Kings’ Mayank Agarwal plays a shot at the MCA International Stadium in Pune (ANI a bang with Jos Buttler at the top.
match by 12 runs. PBKS picked up Photo/IPL Twitter) They’ve got the spin option in (Rav-
their third win of the season, getting ichandran) Ashwin and (Yuzvendra)
two points in the process and solidi- Chahal. Then there’s (Shimron) Het-
fying their position at the third spot roHIt sHarMa reaCHes new jab Kings here at the Maharash- myer, the finisher. So, I think they’ve
in the IPL 2022 Points Table. MILestones tra Cricket Association Stadium in got the resources (to produce a clin-
“I am very happy to have contrib- Pune. Rohit Sharma (10003) became ical show).”
It was yet another milestone for
uted to the team’s win,” said Mayank Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Shar- the seventh batter overall to reach BuMraH Has onLY 4 oVers
Agarwal who was named the Player ma as he became the fifth batter to the 10,000 runs in T20s. The open-
of the Match for his performance. achieve this feat. er achieved the feat in style as he to BowL: CHoPra
“We knew we needed to get off smashed South African pacer Kagiso Former India batter Aakash
Rohit Sharma achieved this feat
to a good start and then consolidate. against Punjab Kings here at the Ma- Rabada for a six on the third ball of Chopra expressed his fondness for
I made sure that we keep the scoring harashtra Cricket Association Stadi- the 4th over to cross the 10000-run Jasprit Bumrah and his bowling skills.
rate high and tried to keep putting um on Wednesday. He also became mark before getting out on the next He also spoke about the influence
pressure on the opposition bowlers. only the second Indian batter after ball. Bumrah can have on the Mumbai
I was happy that we were able to do Virat Kohli to complete 10,000 runs West Indian legend Chris Gayle Indians’ team ahead of their match
that and put up a big score. Also, in the T20 cricket. is leading the list of run-getters with against Punjab Kings.
credit to our bowlers who bowled India and Mumbai Indians skip- 14562 runs to his name followed by Mumbai Indians will be back in
beautifully to defend the total and per achieved this milestone during Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik (11698), action as they take on the Punjab
set up a big win for us against a very the Indian Premier League (IPL WI’s Kieron Pollard (11474), Aus-
strong team,” he added. tralia’s Aaron Finch (10499), Virat Continued at next page... >>
2022) match of MI against Pun-

www.TheIndianEYE.com