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Batters fire Royal Challengers Bengaluru past Mumbai Indians in high-scoring contest

“Yes, that was the toughest part for me. Every time Rasikh bowls, he takes five minutes,” Rutherford said.

“As a batter, you need momentum. Every time you have momentum, when there is a stop and start, it just keeps slowing up the game. It’s something that no one can control. You just have to learn from it. Hopefully, next time, you just try and stay in the game or try some way of being ahead of the game.”

With temperatures expected to rise further and an extreme heatwave forecast for the Maximum City later this week, prolonged T20 contests could become a recurring theme when MI hosts Punjab Kings on Thursday.

Another contributing factor is the IPL’s revised slow over-rate regulations. Until 2024, captains faced match bans — along with heavy fines — after three offences.

Since the 2025 season, however, the IPL governing council has introduced a demerit points system, with suspensions a distant possibility over a 36-month period. The shift appears to have reduced the urgency among captains to maintain over-rates, further slowing down the game.

It is perhaps time to remind everyone involved in the IPL that T20 cricket is supposed to be fast-paced in terms of speed of the game, not just the run-rate. Is anybody listening?

Published on Apr 13, 2026

#IPL #Prolonged #interruptions #slow #overrate #RCB #pose #threats #purpose #T20s"> IPL 2026: Prolonged interruptions, slow over-rate in MI vs RCB pose threats to the very purpose of T20s If the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s innings — which stretched more than half an hour beyond the prescribed 90 minutes in the Indian Premier League (IPL) — was an example of cricket’s quickest format moving at a snail’s pace, the worst was yet to follow at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night.After a 16-minute innings break, the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) chase lasted 124 minutes.The match eventually wrapped up nine minutes shy of midnight, taking the total duration to four hours and 21 minutes. It was long enough to set social media abuzz, with fans debating whether the marquee clash had outlasted several Indian films — not just Lagaan but even Dhurandhar.To be fair, Mumbai experienced perhaps its hottest day of the summer so far, with players battling dehydration and requiring frequent medical attention. The match also featured 11 reviews and at least five injury-related stoppages, each contributing to the sluggish pace.Yet, such prolonged interruptions defeat the very purpose of T20 cricket and test the concentration of players at the crease.Sherfane Rutherford, whose lone fightback helped MI reduce the margin of defeat, admitted that maintaining focus amid repeated stoppages proved challenging.Rutherford waited patiently as Rasikh Salam went down thrice in the 18th over before eventually heading back to the pavilion after the fifth ball — an over that epitomised the stop-start nature of the contest.ALSO READ | Batters fire Royal Challengers Bengaluru past Mumbai Indians in high-scoring contest“Yes, that was the toughest part for me. Every time Rasikh bowls, he takes five minutes,” Rutherford said.“As a batter, you need momentum. Every time you have momentum, when there is a stop and start, it just keeps slowing up the game. It’s something that no one can control. You just have to learn from it. Hopefully, next time, you just try and stay in the game or try some way of being ahead of the game.”With temperatures expected to rise further and an extreme heatwave forecast for the Maximum City later this week, prolonged T20 contests could become a recurring theme when MI hosts Punjab Kings on Thursday.Another contributing factor is the IPL’s revised slow over-rate regulations. Until 2024, captains faced match bans — along with heavy fines — after three offences.Since the 2025 season, however, the IPL governing council has introduced a demerit points system, with suspensions a distant possibility over a 36-month period. The shift appears to have reduced the urgency among captains to maintain over-rates, further slowing down the game.It is perhaps time to remind everyone involved in the IPL that T20 cricket is supposed to be fast-paced in terms of speed of the game, not just the run-rate. Is anybody listening?Published on Apr 13, 2026 #IPL #Prolonged #interruptions #slow #overrate #RCB #pose #threats #purpose #T20s
Sports news

Batters fire Royal Challengers Bengaluru past Mumbai Indians in high-scoring contest

“Yes, that was the toughest part for me. Every time Rasikh bowls, he takes five minutes,” Rutherford said.

“As a batter, you need momentum. Every time you have momentum, when there is a stop and start, it just keeps slowing up the game. It’s something that no one can control. You just have to learn from it. Hopefully, next time, you just try and stay in the game or try some way of being ahead of the game.”

With temperatures expected to rise further and an extreme heatwave forecast for the Maximum City later this week, prolonged T20 contests could become a recurring theme when MI hosts Punjab Kings on Thursday.

Another contributing factor is the IPL’s revised slow over-rate regulations. Until 2024, captains faced match bans — along with heavy fines — after three offences.

Since the 2025 season, however, the IPL governing council has introduced a demerit points system, with suspensions a distant possibility over a 36-month period. The shift appears to have reduced the urgency among captains to maintain over-rates, further slowing down the game.

It is perhaps time to remind everyone involved in the IPL that T20 cricket is supposed to be fast-paced in terms of speed of the game, not just the run-rate. Is anybody listening?

Published on Apr 13, 2026

#IPL #Prolonged #interruptions #slow #overrate #RCB #pose #threats #purpose #T20s">IPL 2026: Prolonged interruptions, slow over-rate in MI vs RCB pose threats to the very purpose of T20s

If the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s innings — which stretched more than half an hour beyond the prescribed 90 minutes in the Indian Premier League (IPL) — was an example of cricket’s quickest format moving at a snail’s pace, the worst was yet to follow at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night.

After a 16-minute innings break, the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) chase lasted 124 minutes.

The match eventually wrapped up nine minutes shy of midnight, taking the total duration to four hours and 21 minutes. It was long enough to set social media abuzz, with fans debating whether the marquee clash had outlasted several Indian films — not just Lagaan but even Dhurandhar.

To be fair, Mumbai experienced perhaps its hottest day of the summer so far, with players battling dehydration and requiring frequent medical attention. The match also featured 11 reviews and at least five injury-related stoppages, each contributing to the sluggish pace.

Yet, such prolonged interruptions defeat the very purpose of T20 cricket and test the concentration of players at the crease.

Sherfane Rutherford, whose lone fightback helped MI reduce the margin of defeat, admitted that maintaining focus amid repeated stoppages proved challenging.

Rutherford waited patiently as Rasikh Salam went down thrice in the 18th over before eventually heading back to the pavilion after the fifth ball — an over that epitomised the stop-start nature of the contest.

ALSO READ | Batters fire Royal Challengers Bengaluru past Mumbai Indians in high-scoring contest

“Yes, that was the toughest part for me. Every time Rasikh bowls, he takes five minutes,” Rutherford said.

“As a batter, you need momentum. Every time you have momentum, when there is a stop and start, it just keeps slowing up the game. It’s something that no one can control. You just have to learn from it. Hopefully, next time, you just try and stay in the game or try some way of being ahead of the game.”

With temperatures expected to rise further and an extreme heatwave forecast for the Maximum City later this week, prolonged T20 contests could become a recurring theme when MI hosts Punjab Kings on Thursday.

Another contributing factor is the IPL’s revised slow over-rate regulations. Until 2024, captains faced match bans — along with heavy fines — after three offences.

Since the 2025 season, however, the IPL governing council has introduced a demerit points system, with suspensions a distant possibility over a 36-month period. The shift appears to have reduced the urgency among captains to maintain over-rates, further slowing down the game.

It is perhaps time to remind everyone involved in the IPL that T20 cricket is supposed to be fast-paced in terms of speed of the game, not just the run-rate. Is anybody listening?

Published on Apr 13, 2026

#IPL #Prolonged #interruptions #slow #overrate #RCB #pose #threats #purpose #T20s

If the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s innings — which stretched more than half an hour beyond…

Move over Mumbai Indians, Wankhede awaits its OG headliner – Virat Kohli

That lack of control has inevitably placed additional pressure on the batting unit. While the batters have shown flashes of form, they have not quite managed to dominate on the road. Against that backdrop, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will sense an opportunity to breach the Wankhede Stadium fortress.

RCB’s batting has largely been in rhythm, notwithstanding the middle-overs stutter against Rajasthan Royals on Friday night. The return of Krunal Pandya to face his former franchise, with younger brother Hardik leading the opposition, adds an intriguing sub-plot to a contest already headlined by the ever-compelling Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli duel.

ALSO READ | Will Shreyas Iyer be banned if Punjab Kings is found guilty of slow over-rate again?

Krunal’s crafty left-arm spin played a key role in dragging RCB back into the contest after Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s onslaught on Friday. On a surface he knows well, the allrounder will be keen to build on that performance.

While MI will be fretting over Mitchell Santner’s fitness, RCB faces a selection call. Rookie pacer Abhinandan Singh has been expensive in the first three games, and the think-tank may consider turning to Rasikh Dar, last season’s trusted death-overs option, for added control at the back-end.

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#IPL #Mumbai #Indians #battle #pesky #slow #starters #tag #RCB #calling"> IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians battle pesky ‘slow starters’ tag as RCB comes calling When Mumbai Indians set off for back-to-back away fixtures ten days ago, there was a sense of renewed optimism. The long-standing jinx of opening-game defeats had finally been broken, and the early signs hinted at momentum. But as it returns to familiar surroundings for Sunday night’s marquee Indian Premier League clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the mood is likely more subdued than buoyant.The tag of ‘slow starters’ has resurfaced. Hardik Pandya and Co. have dropped both their away games, and the concern is less about the batting star power and more about a bowling unit that is yet to click. Across three matches, Mumbai Indians’ bowlers have managed only 11 wickets combined — a telling statistic that underlines their struggles. More worrying is that, barring Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Santner (who has featured in only one game), every other bowler has conceded at an economy rate in double digits.ALSO READ | Move over Mumbai Indians, Wankhede awaits its OG headliner – Virat KohliThat lack of control has inevitably placed additional pressure on the batting unit. While the batters have shown flashes of form, they have not quite managed to dominate on the road. Against that backdrop, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will sense an opportunity to breach the Wankhede Stadium fortress.RCB’s batting has largely been in rhythm, notwithstanding the middle-overs stutter against Rajasthan Royals on Friday night. The return of Krunal Pandya to face his former franchise, with younger brother Hardik leading the opposition, adds an intriguing sub-plot to a contest already headlined by the ever-compelling Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli duel.ALSO READ | Will Shreyas Iyer be banned if Punjab Kings is found guilty of slow over-rate again?Krunal’s crafty left-arm spin played a key role in dragging RCB back into the contest after Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s onslaught on Friday. On a surface he knows well, the allrounder will be keen to build on that performance.While MI will be fretting over Mitchell Santner’s fitness, RCB faces a selection call. Rookie pacer Abhinandan Singh has been expensive in the first three games, and the think-tank may consider turning to Rasikh Dar, last season’s trusted death-overs option, for added control at the back-end.Published on Apr 11, 2026 #IPL #Mumbai #Indians #battle #pesky #slow #starters #tag #RCB #calling
Sports news

Move over Mumbai Indians, Wankhede awaits its OG headliner – Virat Kohli

That lack of control has inevitably placed additional pressure on the batting unit. While the batters have shown flashes of form, they have not quite managed to dominate on the road. Against that backdrop, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will sense an opportunity to breach the Wankhede Stadium fortress.

RCB’s batting has largely been in rhythm, notwithstanding the middle-overs stutter against Rajasthan Royals on Friday night. The return of Krunal Pandya to face his former franchise, with younger brother Hardik leading the opposition, adds an intriguing sub-plot to a contest already headlined by the ever-compelling Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli duel.

ALSO READ | Will Shreyas Iyer be banned if Punjab Kings is found guilty of slow over-rate again?

Krunal’s crafty left-arm spin played a key role in dragging RCB back into the contest after Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s onslaught on Friday. On a surface he knows well, the allrounder will be keen to build on that performance.

While MI will be fretting over Mitchell Santner’s fitness, RCB faces a selection call. Rookie pacer Abhinandan Singh has been expensive in the first three games, and the think-tank may consider turning to Rasikh Dar, last season’s trusted death-overs option, for added control at the back-end.

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#IPL #Mumbai #Indians #battle #pesky #slow #starters #tag #RCB #calling">IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians battle pesky ‘slow starters’ tag as RCB comes calling

When Mumbai Indians set off for back-to-back away fixtures ten days ago, there was a sense of renewed optimism. The long-standing jinx of opening-game defeats had finally been broken, and the early signs hinted at momentum. But as it returns to familiar surroundings for Sunday night’s marquee Indian Premier League clash against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the mood is likely more subdued than buoyant.

The tag of ‘slow starters’ has resurfaced. Hardik Pandya and Co. have dropped both their away games, and the concern is less about the batting star power and more about a bowling unit that is yet to click. Across three matches, Mumbai Indians’ bowlers have managed only 11 wickets combined — a telling statistic that underlines their struggles. More worrying is that, barring Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Santner (who has featured in only one game), every other bowler has conceded at an economy rate in double digits.

ALSO READ | Move over Mumbai Indians, Wankhede awaits its OG headliner – Virat Kohli

That lack of control has inevitably placed additional pressure on the batting unit. While the batters have shown flashes of form, they have not quite managed to dominate on the road. Against that backdrop, defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru will sense an opportunity to breach the Wankhede Stadium fortress.

RCB’s batting has largely been in rhythm, notwithstanding the middle-overs stutter against Rajasthan Royals on Friday night. The return of Krunal Pandya to face his former franchise, with younger brother Hardik leading the opposition, adds an intriguing sub-plot to a contest already headlined by the ever-compelling Rohit Sharma-Virat Kohli duel.

ALSO READ | Will Shreyas Iyer be banned if Punjab Kings is found guilty of slow over-rate again?

Krunal’s crafty left-arm spin played a key role in dragging RCB back into the contest after Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s onslaught on Friday. On a surface he knows well, the allrounder will be keen to build on that performance.

While MI will be fretting over Mitchell Santner’s fitness, RCB faces a selection call. Rookie pacer Abhinandan Singh has been expensive in the first three games, and the think-tank may consider turning to Rasikh Dar, last season’s trusted death-overs option, for added control at the back-end.

Published on Apr 11, 2026

#IPL #Mumbai #Indians #battle #pesky #slow #starters #tag #RCB #calling

When Mumbai Indians set off for back-to-back away fixtures ten days ago, there was a…