[Watch] Sandeep Sharma strikes thrice in the final over to finish with 5-18 in RR vs MI IPL 2024 clash 

Rajasthan Royals (RR) veteran seamer Sandeep Sharma marked his return in some style after ending with figures of 5/16 in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Monday.

Sharma, who was dealing with a side strain issue after playing the first couple of matches this year, replaced Kuldeep Sen in the playing XI for RR. The right-arm pacer was primarily assigned death bowling responsibility in the matches that he played earlier this season but had a shot with the new ball today in Nandre Burger's absence.

Sandeep Sharma made the most of the chance, dismissing Ishan Kishan in his very first over. The decision was initially not given in RR's favor despite the appeal, but a review from Samson overturned the on-field call. He got Suryakumar Yadav's key wicket in his next over and reduced MI to 20/3 in the fourth over. He ended up conceding only four runs in his first spell.

Sharma was given the ball again in the 15th over of the innings when the well-set Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera took him on for 11 runs. In the last over, he accounted for the wickets of Tilak Varma, Gerald Coetzee, and Tim David, and conceded only three runs in the process.

Have a look at his brilliant spell right here:

The Mumbai Indians finished with 179/9 after 20 overs, with Sandeep Sharma being the best bowler on show for RR in the first innings.

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Sandeep Sharma's 5/16 against MI marked his first five-wicket haul in the IPL

The veteran pacer has largely been a defensive bowler in recent seasons but showed flashes of brilliance with the new ball as well as the death.

Prior to his exceptional spell against MI, Sharma's best figures in the IPL came against the Delhi Capitals in the 2017 edition in Mohali, where he finished with figures of 4/20.

Another one of Sandeep Sharma's most productive spells came in the form of a four-wicket haul performance against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 2015 season.