Rohit Sharma Scripts History: First Indian to Win 20 IPL Player of the Match Awards!
NEW DELHI: In a night of dazzling cricketing prowess, Rohit Sharma etched his name into the annals of IPL history on Sunday, becoming the first Indian cricketer to clinch an astonishing 20 Player of the Match awards in the tournament. This monumental achievement unfolded during Mumbai Indians’ commanding nine-wicket triumph over arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
After a lean patch this season, the charismatic opener roared back to form with a breathtaking unbeaten 76 off 44 balls. Stepping in as an impact substitute, the former MI skipper mesmerized fans with his trademark elegance—think silken flicks, powerful pulls, and a calculated assault on the CSK bowlers. His knock wasn’t just a return to form; it was the bedrock of MI’s clinical chase of CSK’s 177-run target, achieved with over four overs to spare.
Complementing Rohit’s brilliance was the explosive Suryakumar Yadav, who smashed an unbeaten 68 off 30 balls. Together, they forged an unbreakable 114-run partnership, turning the game into a one-sided affair and igniting the Wankhede crowd with every boundary. While Suryakumar’s pyrotechnics dazzled, it was Rohit’s milestone that rightfully stole the limelight—a testament to his longevity, consistency, and sheer dominance in the IPL across 16 seasons since its inception in 2008.
Earlier in the evening, Chennai Super Kings posted a fighting 176/5, thanks to gritty half-centuries from Shivam Dube (52 off 38) and Ravindra Jadeja (50 off 35). Debutant Ayush Mhatre also caught the eye with a quickfire 32 off 15 balls, showcasing promise for the defending champions. However, MI’s bowling attack, led by the peerless Jasprit Bumrah with figures of 2/25 in his four overs, kept CSK in check, preventing a more daunting total.
Rohit’s record-breaking feat places him ahead of Indian stalwarts like MS Dhoni (17 awards) and Virat Kohli (16 awards) in the IPL’s Player of the Match tally. Globally, only Chris Gayle (22 awards) and AB de Villiers (25 awards) stand above him, underlining the magnitude of his achievement for an Indian batter in the world’s toughest T20 league.
As Mumbai Indians celebrate their third consecutive victory and climb the points table, Rohit Sharma’s latest milestone serves as a powerful reminder of his enduring greatness in the shortest format. At 36, the ‘Hitman’ continues to redefine excellence, proving that class is permanent, even in the high-octane world of the IPL. With more matches to come, can Rohit close the gap to Gayle and de Villiers? Only time will tell, but for now, Wankhede—and Indian cricket—salutes a true legend.