The playoff race of IPL 2023 has been tremendous. With Mumbai Indians’ win over Gujarat, the race has now become more exciting. Gujarat Titans remain at number 1 in the points table despite their loss to Mumbai, while Mumbai have moved back to third. The script of Mumbai’s victory was decided at the start of Gujarat’s batting innings at Wankhede. But Rashid Khan did different from the expectations in this. He single-handedly dispelled the clouds of the embarrassing defeat of the Gujarat team. Due to which, questions have started to arise in the social media about the player of the match.
After Mumbai’s win, Suryakumar Yadav was selected as the player of the match. Surya played a tremendous innings to take Mumbai from the initial difficulties to the end of the innings as per the target. He scored an unbeaten century during this. Surya’s century is rarely praised as much as it is, but some former cricketers have now started taking Rashid’s side.
A discussion broke out about Rashid
Discussions about the player of the match are going on a lot. Rashid Khan is being discussed on social media. More than Surya’s unbeaten century, Rashid’s half-century innings is showing importance even after Gujarat’s defeat. Now it is difficult to understand that the reason behind doing this is to be himself in the discussion, then Rashid is actually appreciated.
Surya played an unbeaten innings of 103 runs off 49 balls and sent Mumbai batting first on a score of 218 runs. While four Mumbai batsmen were made victims of Rashid Khan in the meantime. While Gujarat lost 5 wickets in 55 runs while coming to bat to chase the run. Gujarat was in a state of collapse and the threat of a humiliating defeat was imminent. However, Rashid single-handedly saved the team from a humiliating defeat. Rashid played an unbeaten innings of 79 runs with 10 sixes. However, in the end, Mumbai won by 27 runs in a one-sided manner.
Former Indian cricketer S. Badrinath tweeted, “Player of the match for me today is Rashid Khan. What a wonderful performance he has performed.
Rashid Khan is my man of the match for tonight! What an incredible all round performance #MIvGT @rashidkhan_19
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) May 12, 2023
Commentator Sunil Taneja also tweeted, “If Suryakumar Yadav was unmatched, Rashid Khan was incredible. In my opinion both of them should have jointly awarded player of the match.
The Man of the Match award should have been a combined one. SKY was amazing but Rashid was exceptional.
— Sunil Taneja (@iSunilTaneja) May 12, 2023
A cricket fan even apologized to Suryakumar Yadav and called Rashid Khan the player of the match. The fan was also supported by another fan, who opined that Rashid Khan should get the player of the match for his fighting spirit.
Sorry Suryakumar Yadav but
Rashid Khan should get man of the match, first took 4fer on road like pitch & then made brill6fifty from difficult situationWhattta circketer @rashidkhan_19
— ` Frustrated CSKian (@kurkureter) May 12, 2023
IPL 2023 has witnessed several such instances, where the player of the losing team has also been awarded the player of the match. And, the same trend should have been followed in this match as well. Such a view also started to be presented.
IPL this year had started to give POTM to players from the losing side, and they should have done it today also.
SKY played an outstanding knock, but look at what Rashid has done. 4/30 on this pitch is gold dust, and then he hit the most sixes in the game. https://t.co/XMelYEHpCX
— Gurkirat Singh Gill (@gurkiratsgill) May 12, 2023
Batting in what condition
Rashid Khan, however, batted in such a situation that he did not have the pressure of a run chase. He had to put in shots to reduce the margin. While Surya had to bat keeping in mind the need to create a huge target while the team was losing wickets. Surya was not only under pressure to challenge for a match win, but also to keep the team’s playoff dreams intact. All the burden was on his shoulders at that time. Which he succeeded in doing. Thus Surya single-handedly played a big role at important times. In which failure, the whole season would have been bad for Mumbai.
. Source