Mumbai Indians have ensured that they stay alive in the race for a top-four finish in the 2018 Indian Premier League after defeating Kings XI Punjab at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai. This was a much-needed win for the defending champions to make sure their game goes on after jumping to the fourth spot on the table.

Rahul posed a huge threat for Mumbai with his brilliant batting as he smashed 10 fours and three sixes in his brilliant innings. His dismissal was necessary for the hosts to effectively restrict Punjab’s chase. The match was in a pressing stage with 60 needed of 30 balls, when leggie Mayank Markande conceded 18 runs, with Rahul striking back-to-back sixes. Bumrah, however, came to the rescue by dismissing Aaron Finch on the first ball in his second over, which ended the 111-run partnership between Rahul and Finch, bringing Mumbai back in the game. Bumrah delivered the second blow when he removed Marcus Stonis and the visitors were in search of 38 runs from 18 balls at that point.

"Bumrah has come a long way the past two years. He's worked really hard on his bowling. Not easy to come out and bowl the way he does. He's the one who's taken the responsibility. Always Malinga will be missed, but since he's gone, we've known Bumrah is the one to take the charge. He might not be up there in the wickets column, but what he does for us is very very important. Coming out and bowling at difficult times to a batsman who's set, that's what we require from him," Rohit said.

Pollard had set the stage in the first innings by striking a massive fifty which aided Mumbai Indians to recover from the mid-innings slump to 186 for 8 wickets in this fate-deciding game. Pollard was initially dropped from the team after having scored only 83 runs in 8 matches but his 50 runs off 23 balls was a real match saver for Mumbai after they had fallen to 71/4.