Mustafizur Strikes Early in Do-or-Die Clash, Dismisses Rohit Sharma Yet Again

In a crucial do-or-die encounter for Delhi Capitals, Mustafizur Rahman delivered a stunning early blow by dismissing Mumbai Indians' star opener Rohit Sharma. With this win-or-go-home fixture determining Delhi’s playoff hopes, the pressure was high—and Mustafiz responded with magic.

Playing at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, where a stand was recently named after him, Rohit walked out with pride. However, his return to the ground didn’t go as scripted. Attempting to hit big on his ‘own stand,’ Rohit managed just 5 runs before falling prey once again to Mustafizur’s deceptive cutter—a familiar trap. This marked the seventh time Rohit has fallen to the Bangladeshi left-arm seamer in the IPL.

Mustafiz Breaks Through in the 3rd Over

Delhi’s stand-in skipper Faf du Plessis, who led the side in the absence of the ill Axar Patel, introduced Mustafizur in the third over. The left-armer bowled just outside off stump, and the ball moved further away after pitching. Rohit, planted on the crease, attempted a shot but edged it behind. Wicketkeeper Abhishek Porel took a brilliant diving catch to his right.

Disciplined Spell from Mustafiz

Though Rohit’s was his only wicket, Mustafizur bowled a tight spell, conceding just 30 runs in his 4 overs and building pressure throughout the innings. His early strike set the tone for Delhi's bowling unit.

Mumbai Indians eventually posted 160/5 in their 20 overs. Alongside Mustafiz, Kuldeep Yadav, Dushmantha Chameera, and Mukesh Kumar shared the wickets, with Mukesh bagging two.

Playoff Race Heats Up

With Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings already sealing their playoff spots for IPL 2025, this match between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals is vital for the final playoff berth. The outcome will heavily influence which team progresses.