3 memorable clashes between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals at the Wankhede Stadium

#1 Mumbai pull of a heist to qualify for the playoffs – 2014

During the business end of the 2014 season of the Indian Premier League, the equation was pretty simple: a win for Rajasthan would mean they qualify for the playoffs or even a loss with a lesser margin would ensure their qualification. Whereas, for the Mumbai Indians, they not only needed to win but to win by a huge margin, to qualify for the playoffs.

Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to field first. Rajasthan Royals lost Shane Watson in the 6th over but this didn’t hold the pair of Sanju Samson and Karun Nair back. The young pair added 99 runs for the second wicket and swung the momentum in Rajasthan’s favour.

Samson once again showed his class with exquisite drives and cuts, while Karun Nair attacked the Mumbai bowlers right from the word go and smashed them all over the park. He raced away to a quickfire 50 off just 26 balls, but was dismissed right after scoring a 50.

However, this innings was the perfect launchpad for the lower order to attack. Samson was dismissed in the 16th over for a well made 74 of just 47 deliveries, and at this juncture, Rajasthan Royals were 3-136 in 15.3 overs with two new batsmen at the crease.

James Faulker and Brad Hodge struck a few lusty blows at the end to power the team to a total to 189/4 in 20 overs.

The equation was pretty simple for Mumbai Indians, they needed to chase the target of 190 in 14.4 or less overs to qualify for the playoffs.

With a mountain to climb, they got off to a poor start, losing Lendl Simmons for 12 in the second over. Corey Anderson, who then had the record for fastest ODI century was promoted up the order to number 3.

He, along with Michael Hussey, took the attack to the opposition, smashing the Rajasthan bowlers to all corners of the Wankhede Stadium. Despite losing Michael Hussey and Kieron Pollard in quick succession, Mumbai Indians were in the hunt thanks to some incredible onslaught from Corey Anderson.

82 runs were required off 32 balls, when Rohit Sharma was dismissed of the bowling of Dhawal Kulkarni for 16. Corey Anderson and Ambati Rayudu kept smashing the Rajasthan bowlers to bring the equation to 8 of 2 balls.

On the 2nd ball of the 14th over, Ambati Rayudu smashed a six off a full toss from James Faulkner to bring the required runs to 2 of 1 ball.

On the 3rd ball, Rayudu was run out trying to steal a non-existent second run after the cover fielder missed out hitting the stumps, they went for the second, but fell short of the crease at the wicket keeper's end.

As per the equation, Mumbai needed to score a boundary off the 4th ball to qualify for the playoffs; anything else meant they would be out of the tournament.

Under huge pressure, James Faulkner bowled a knee-high full toss at Aditya Tare who clobbered it for a six over square leg boundary. The Wankhede Stadium was thrilled and the entire Mumbai Indians squad run on to the ground to pounce on Aditya Tare who turned out to be the hero of the match. But the real man of the match was Corey Anderson, whose 44-ball 95 turned the game towards Mumbai Indians.

A dejected Rajasthan Royals team walked out of the field and it was a rare sight to see an angry Rahul Dravid throw his cap away in disgust.

Mumbai Indians won the game by 5 wickets and with 32 balls to spare. This win meant they handsomely qualified for the playoffs. For his breathtaking stroke play, that pulled off a miracle, Corey Anderson was awarded the Man of the Match.