Player of the Match: Rana steals the show for Mumbai

A 29-ball 50 is no longer a big deal in cricket. At least, not in T20s. Even then, Nitish Rana will be remembered for playing such an innings for a while now. And, the reason is simple — it helped Mumbai Indians clinch a win from the jaws of defeat.

Nitish Rana on way to his half-century in Mumbai on Sunday.

A 29-ball 50 is no longer a big deal in cricket. At least, not in T20s. Even then, Nitish Rana will be remembered for playing such an innings for a while now. And, the reason is simple — it helped Mumbai Indians clinch a win from the jaws of defeat.

The 23-year-old batsman from Delhi kept his cool to ensure that his team inched closer to the victory. At a time, when defeat loomed large on the Mumbai outfit, Rana partnered with Hardik Pandya to steady the ship. For a young cricketer, it is never easy to perform under pressure, but on Sunday evening, Rana proved that gritty batting display could ultimately put the pressure back to the bowlers.

While he tamed Trent Boult, Rana made it a point to keep things simple. That not only eased the pressure, but also gave Mumbai something to cheer about!