Shardul Thakur and Hardik Pandya (Source: AFP)
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) pulled off a remarkable six-wicket win against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 41st match of the ongoing IPL 2026, chasing down a daunting target of 244 in just 18.4 overs at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
However, Hardik Pandya's decision to use Shardul Thakur as an impact player gained the limelight.
The chase was set up by a blistering knock from Travis Head, who smashed 76 off just 30 balls, including eight sixes at the strike-rate of 253.33. His aggressive approach in the powerplay shifted the momentum firmly in SRH's favour.
After his dismissal, Heinrich Klaasen took charge with a composed knock of 65 runs off 30 balls. A quick cameo from Salil Arora, who added 30 off 10 deliveries, helped SRH finish the chase comfortably with eight balls to spare.
Ryan Rickelton's historic innings for MI
Earlier, MI posted a massive total of 243/5 after opting to bat first. The innings was headlined by a sensational performance from Ryan Rickelton, who remained unbeaten on 123 off 55 balls.
He reached his century in just 44 deliveries, breaking Sanath Jayasuriya's long-standing franchise record for the fastest hundred.
Rickelton's knock also became the highest individual score by an MI batter, surpassing Jayasuriya's 114. He was well supported by Will Jacks, who contributed 46 off 22 balls.
The duo stitched together a rapid opening partnership, giving MI a strong start and helping them dominate the powerplay.
Here is the complete list of fastest century for MI in IPL history
- 44 – Ryan Rickelton vs SRH, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2026, Tonight*
- 45 – Sanath Jayasuriya vs CSK, Mumbai (Wankhede), 2008
- 45 – Tilak Varma vs GT, Ahmedabad, 2026
- 47 – Cameron Green vs SRH, Wankhede (Wankhede), 2023
Shardul Thakur becomes the 'First Impact Player' to go unused
One of the most talked-about moments from the match came when MI introduced Shardul Thakur as an Impact Player in the 7th over.
Surprisingly, Shardul Thakur neither bowled nor batted for the remainder of the match, making him the first player in IPL history to be used as an Impact Sub without contributing.
The decision sparked widespread debate among fans and experts after the MI vs SRH match.
How the decision backfired for Mumbai Indians
Mumbai’s bowlers struggled throughout the chase, failing to contain SRH's aggressive batting lineup. Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless and conceded 54 runs in his four overs, while Trent Boult managed just one wicket with an economy rate above 10.
Other bowlers, including Will Jacks and Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar, were also expensive.
In such a scenario, not using Shardul Thakur appeared to be a missed opportunity. His ability to break partnerships or contribute with variations could have added a different dimension to MI's bowling attack, as the rest of the bowlers were struggling.
MI's batting coach, Kieron Pollard, also weighed in on the decision, expressing surprise at Shardul Thakur not being used.
"We didn't Shardul bowl a single over... I will go back and ask. Then again, if he would have given away 20 runs in an over, then it would have been a totally different conversation," Pollard said.
Mumbai Indians’ qualification scenario
This defeat has left Mumbai Indians in a difficult position in the IPL 2026 season. With just two wins from eight matches, they currently sit ninth on the points table with a poor net run rate.
To stay in contention for the playoffs, MI must win all of their remaining six matches to reach 16 points, a total that has historically been enough to secure qualification. However, given their current form, the road ahead looks increasingly challenging.
Also Read: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Pitch Report, Weather Report for GT vs RCB Match 42, IPL 2026
