SPORTS

Reflecting on his match-winning innings, Buttler emphasized the importance of maintaining faith in oneself, even during the most challenging moments. He acknowledged the influence of RR's Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, in reinforcing his self-belief and resilience on the field.

Buttler's blistering knock of 107 runs off just 60 balls, adorned with nine boundaries and six sixes, was a masterclass in counter-attacking batting. Despite a sluggish start and the early loss of key wickets, Buttler's partnership with Rovman Powell injected life into the chase, with Powell contributing a quickfire 26 off 13 balls.

Reflecting on the staggering run-fest, du Plessis remarked, "It’s remarkable the number of runs scored today, setting a world record. I wouldn’t consider 270 as the par score, Danny. Bowling on a day like this is challenging; we experimented with a few strategies, but they didn’t quite click."

Efforts to identify the attackers have led to the recognition of one individual as Vishal from Gurugram, and the other from Rajasthan, both purportedly associated with the Rohit Godara gang. Vishal, known as Kalu, has a criminal record, having served time in Delhi's Tihar Jail for thefts in 2020. While the police have identified the second shooter, they have refrained from disclosing further details at this stage.

Head's remarkable T20 century, a first for him, was a display of sheer aggression, accumulating 102 runs off just 41 balls, embellished with nine fours and eight towering sixes. Alongside Heinrich Klaasen's explosive 67 off 31 deliveries, Sunrisers set a new record by posting a mammoth total of 287 for three, eclipsing their previous best of 277/3 against Mumbai Indians earlier in the season.

Reflecting on Mumbai's performance, Lara emphasized the team's reliance on Bumrah, stating, "Beyond Jasprit Bumrah, there is no one to actually support them in that bowling attack, and the CSK batters took them apart." Lara's observation underscores the significance of a well-rounded bowling unit in the fiercely competitive IPL arena.

Mumbai Indians' recent loss in the IPL sparked a storm of criticism aimed at star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Renowned former players, including Sunil Gavaskar and Kevin Pietersen, didn't mince words in their assessment of Pandya's performance, particularly his bowling and captaincy.