Rohit returns to form as MI thrash CSK

Indian Premier League, Mumbai

Chennai Super Kings 176-5 (20 overs): Jadeja 53* (35); Bumrah 2-25

Mumbai Indians 177-1 (15. 4 overs): Rohit 76* (45)

Mumbai Indians won by nine wickets

Rohit Sharma hit his first half-century of the season as Mumbai Indians beat Chennai Super Kings by nine wickets in the Indian Super League.

The India captain, whose previous best score was 26, struck an unbeaten 76 from 45 balls as Mumbai reached their target of 177 in the 16th over.

Introduced as an impact substitute for Mumbai’s innings, Rohit put on 63 from the top of the order with Ryan Rickelton before the South African was dismissed for 24, caught by T20 debutant Ayush Mhatre.

Suryakumar Yadav, who scored 68 from 30, joined Rohit at the crease and the pair hit an unbroken partnership of 114 to see Mumbai home at the Wankhede stadium.

After Chennai were put into bat, the 17-year-old Mhatre hit 32 from 15, but the league’s bottom team slipped to 63-3 in the eighth over.

Shivam Dube and Ravindra Jadeja steadied their side, adding 79 for the fourth wicket.

Jasprit Bumrah accounted for Dube, seeing him caught by Will Jacks at mid-wicket two balls after the Chennai batter had reached his 50, then had MS Dhoni taken at deep square leg by Tilak Varma for just four.

It was left to Jadeja to ensure his side finished strongly, and he struck 15 of the 16 runs from Trent Boult’s final over to finish on 53 not out from 35 as Chennai closed on 176-5.

The 37-year-old Rohit started Mumbai’s reply under pressure, having averaged just 13. 66 this season from six innings.

But the veteran batter found his touch at his home stadium, hitting four fours and six sixes to seal a fourth victory for his side, lifting them one place to sixth in the table.