On Wednesday night, the Mumbai Indians produced an all-round show at Wankhede Stadium, but apart from the sixes and wickets, it was Suryakumar Yadav’s gesture that touched the soul of the game. A night in which Suryakumar became not only the hero of the bat but also a hero of humility and grace, wherein Mumbai overwhelmed Delhi Capitals to confirm their place in the IPL 2025 playoffs by 59 runs.
Suryakumar scored a brilliant and invaluable 73 not out off 44 balls as MI went from 132/5 to 180/5 in the last two overs with his efforts under pressure. With Naman Dhir as his partner, the duo launched a counter barrage of boundaries to leave the Delhi Capitals reeling.
But more than his on-field dominance — because that had been to be expected — was what he did postgame. Suryakumar strolled in with his Player of the Match award — his maiden of the season in 13 games — but he also arrived with an umbrella as the presentation ceremony commenced against intermittent showers. Then came an act that warmed the hearts of cricketers: he stood to protect the broadcaster Harsha Bhogle from the rain, smiling as he held the umbrella. The image of then – a very humble act – went online in an instant, and it was a low-profile reminder to the fans that cricket is more like a character and less on cricket.
Speaking after the game, Suryakumar said of his innings, “It was important for a single batter to bat till the end. We knew there was one over of 15–20 runs somewhere, so we had to wait till the end. The way Naman came in and shared that energy with me was also a turning point.”
Despite being a little nervous, MI skipper Hardik Pandya had all praise for his side’s all-round performance, especially his bowlers. I am damn sure with bowlers like Santner and Bumrah. Their bowling tonight was of the highest standard. That explosive finish on a tricky pitch from Naman and Surya deserves credit as well – Pandya.
In respect to the bowling, a merciless Mumbai pace-spin duo, Jasprit Bumrah (3/12) and Mitchell Santner (3/11), annihilated the run in bankers, galvanising DC down to a derisory 121, thus booting them out of the playoffs race. This win has ensured a top-two finish for Mumbai, as their playoff spot alongside PBKS, RCB and GT is confirmed.
Mumbai will now travel to Jaipur to meet the Punjab Kings for their final league match on May 26, where a win would send them back to the top of the overall standings and potentially set them up for a first-round match-up against the Kings heading into the knockout phase, commencing on May 29.
Bat, ball or even just humanity, with Suryakumar Yadav there, the world is gently reminded that cricket is never just a sport but truly has deposits of moments linger long after the lights go out.