IPL 2020 has well and truly reached its crucial stage and the Mumbai Indians took on the in-form Royal Challengers Bangalore at Abu Dhabi on Wednesday. Mumbai won the toss and decided to field first, with much belief in their chasing abilities. Aaron Finch, who didn't perform as expected in this series, was replaced by Philippe as the opening batsman for RCB, along with the young Padikkal. The new opening combination proved to be good for the RCB as they scored 71 runs for the first wicket partnership. This combination is here to stay for the rest of the series.

With Philippe getting dismissed for 33 runs, Devdutt Padikkal had put up a fantastic show by scoring 74 runs from just 45 balls that included 12 boundaries and a six. The ever-reliable Kohli and AB de Villiers duo got out for low scores and RCB lost back to back wickets as Mumbai came back strongly. 

Jasprit Bumrah, the champion bowler was phenomenal yet again picking up 3 important wickets for 14 runs in his 4 overs. The Royal Challengers Bangalore were able to score an average total of 164 runs in 20 overs for the loss of 6 wickets. Kieron Pollard was spot on with his bowling changes and field setup as the captain of the Mumbai side.

Considering the batting power of the Mumbai Indians, this is an easy score for them to chase. Quinton de Kock and Ishan Kishan had put up a good little opening partnership before both of them lost their wickets. Suryakumar Yadav was the hero of the Mumbai innings scoring an unbeaten 79 from 43 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes. 

RCB was in good control till the 15th over but lost their momentum after that due to the quickfire innings from Hardik Pandya and the match-winning performance of Suryakumar Yadav. Mumbai Indians chased their target in the last over with five balls to spare. There was no individual match-winning performance from any of the RCB bowlers that cost them the match, enabling the Mumbai Indians to stay majestically on top of the points table.

Through the splendid performance from his bat, Suryakumar Yadav had proved and answered the critics that he too can deliver at a crucial time and they now would seemingly be wondering why Yadav was dropped from the Indian squad in the upcoming tour to Australia. Yadav had smashed the ball with tenacity and his performance had come within 24 hours of the announcement of the Indian squad to Australia in which Suryakumar Yadav had got excluded. 

Besides the wonderful victory, all eyes are towards the performance delivered by Suryakumar Yadav which had certainly proved why he would be an essential pick to the Indian squad, and the Indian selecting committee is now bound to give its answer on why he has been getting omitted and why can't he be given a ticket to the playing XI this time against the Aussies.

As the selection committee hadn't considered his consistent performances, many fans, and audiences, by citing his yet another smashing knock, have been stating that this game was an answer to the selectors, as they are now pushed to do the rest. Suryakumar Yadav's splendid performance had given him the honor of player of the match. While addressing the post-presentation ceremony, Yadav said, "I was looking to finish the game. I was looking to learn what my game is. Happy to have finished it. A lot of mediation has helped. I have worked on my game during the lockdown". 

With the significant victory, Mumbai Indians currently stand at the top of the table and it has reserved the berth in the playoffs. MI had played 12 matches so far and won eight with 16 points on the board while the defeated RCB hasn't faced any such debacles as Kohli's army has managed to stand at the second spot in the table and it has played 12 matches and won seven with 14 points.