New Delhi: After a batting attack led by Phil Salt, Virat Kohli and skipper Rajat Patidar lit up the Wankhede Stadium, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru piled up a formidable 240/4 against Mumbai Indians. As soon as the target was set, all eyes turned towards it. Rohit SharmaKnown for his ability to destroy any bowling attack.Rohit started cautiously, chasing hard before shifting gears, but his innings was cut short by injury. At the end of the fifth over, bowled by Krunal Pandya, Rohit appeared to be struggling with his hamstring. He beckoned for physio and was treated on the field, but as the pain worsened, he eventually retired Hurt after scoring 19 off 13 balls. Cameras soon captured his wife Ritika Sajda’s distraught reaction in the stands.Earlier, RCB’s top order provided a batting masterclass. Salt scored 78 off 36 balls, opening a 120-run stand with Kohli, who scored 50 off 38 balls. Patidar then continued the carnage with 53 off just 20 balls, adding 65 runs with Kohli. A late cameo from Tim David (34* off 16) ensured that RCB finished with a big total.After coming in to bat, Kohli set the tone early by dismissing Trent Boult, while Salt soon joined the attack. The duo dominated both Boult and Jasprit Bumrah, racing to 71/0 in the powerplay.Namak was particularly harsh on Mitchell Santner and Mayank Markande, who reached their fifties in just 25 balls. Kohli soon followed that up with RCB’s 100 in 8.4 overs.
The breakthrough came through Shardul Thakur, who finished with an opening stand of 120. Patidar then took charge, launching a ferocious counter-attack, including three consecutive sixes off Markande. He scored a 17-ball fifty before falling to Santner.Despite sporadic wickets, RCB’s momentum never faltered. Jitesh Sharma’s partnership and Tim David’s finish took the total to 240/4.For Mumbai Indians, Shardul, Hardik Pandya, Santner and Boult took a wicket each, but the bowlers were largely on the receiving end of RCB’s relentless batting display.
