Mumbai Indians (MI) have been a top team in IPL. They are the only team to win five titles 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. A record of 5 Times.
The Mumbai-based team has always featured some of the game’s top batters among its ranks. MI’s strong batting lineup, from Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya earlier to Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav lately, has been a key strength.
Although Mumbai’s bowling unit was important in their winning five titles in eight years, their batting unit has also been powerful for over a decade. Many Mumbai batters have hunted in combination, resulting in significant partnerships in the Indian Premier League.
On that topic, let’s take a look at Mumbai’s best three batting partnerships in IPL history.
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1) 167* from 106 balls – Rohit Sharma and Herschelle Gibbs (for the 2nd wicket) vs KKR, IPL 2012
At the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, the two great strikers of the cricket ball stitched together an undefeated 167-run stand against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
In a day game against Mumbai Indians, KKR asked the visitors to bat first and suffered an early blow in the form of Sachin Tendulkar’s prized wicket. Rohit stepped into the middle at No. 3 with Mumbai 15/1 after 2.2 overs. Along with Gibbs, he helped Mumbai Indians get back on track.
Gibbs and Rohit assaulted the KKR bowlers, with none of Brett Lee, Sunil Narine, Shakib Al Hasan, or Jacques Kallis having any solutions.
They led Mumbai to 76 at the midway point before letting loose in the second half of the game. Rohit, in particular, appeared to be in excellent form as he rushed to his first IPL century in just 52 balls. He quickly changed gears and hammered five sixes and as many as 12 boundaries all through his inning.
Gibbs, who also made 66* off 58 balls, He and Rohit contributed 106 runs in the final 10 overs to help Mumbai reach 182/1.
Both right-handers batted to the end, with Rohit reaching a career-high 60-ball 109*.
The first-innings score was sufficient for Mumbai Indians, as they held KKR to 155/4 and won the game by 27 runs. Rohit was deservedly named Man of the Match for his amazing IPL century.
2) 163* runs in 108 balls – Sachin Tendulkar and Dwayne Smith (for the 1st wicket) vs RR, IPL 2012
Mumbai faced the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the last league match of the 2012 season in Jaipur. Mumbai promoted Dwayne Smith up the order to begin together with Sachin Tendulkar after the hosts struck 162/6 in the first innings.
The Caribbean batsman was superb in his first game as an opener, putting the pressure on the Rajasthan spinners from the start. Tendulkar kept finding boundaries and settled into his innings beautifully while Smith was at his attacking best.
Despite the fact that the Jaipur surface is not great for batting, both Tendulkar and Smith found it easy after buying some time at the crease. Smith was the first to raise his bat, reaching his half-century in 34 balls. Meanwhile, the Little Master scored a crucial 58* off 51.
Smith hit 10 boundaries and three sixes on his way to an IPL career-high 87* runs off 58 balls.
With the scores tied, Shane Watson began the 19th over with a wide ball, completing Mumbai Indians’ run-chase of 163 runs with 12 balls remaining. Tendulkar and Smith’s partnership is still Mumbai’s best opening stand.
3) 140 in 64 balls – Suryakumar Yadav and Nehal Wadhera (for the 3rd wicket) vs RCB, IPL 2023
Suryakumar Yadav and Nehal Wadhera, the most recent additions to the list, were in brilliant form during their 140-run stand against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). They built this partnership in IPL 2023 Match 54, which took place on Tuesday, May 9.
Mumbai were in trouble in their 200-run chase when they lost both Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma in the space of three balls within the powerplay. Wanindu Hasaranga drew RCB back into the game by removing both Mumbai openers after Kishan helped Mumbai score 50 runs in four overs.
SKY was at his best once again, hitting the ball regardless of the delivery and slamming it all over the place. Surya scored 65 runs in only 20 balls after the 10-over mark.
Meanwhile, Wadhera effectively matched Suryakumar and smashed his second straight half-century in 34 balls.
Suryakumar (83 off 35) holed out on the boundary in the 16th over, ending their partnership. But by then, the game was literally gone, with MI needing only eight more runs with 4.2 overs remaining.
Wadhera (52* off 34) struck the winning maximum in the next over to finish Mumbai’s hammering of RCB at the Wankhede Stadium.
Suryakumar and Wadhera’s 140-run partnership is currently MI’s highest-ever IPL partnership versus RCB for any wicket.
