Match overview
Rajasthan Royals beat Mumbai Indians by 9 wickets at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on 22 April 2024. Mumbai Indians, who won the toss and chose to bat, were restricted to 179/9 after a poor powerplay of 45/3 in which Sandeep Sharma took three of the top-order wickets. Rajasthan's reply was dominant from the first over: 61 runs without loss in the powerplay, 90 more for just 1 wicket through the middle, and the job done with the total reaching 183/1. Sandeep Sharma's final figures of 5/18 from 4 overs made him the obvious player of the match.
Mumbai's innings had some resilience to it. The middle overs produced 86 runs for only 1 wicket, which suggested a recovery was building. Five wickets in the death overs for 48 runs, however, meant the final total was 15 to 20 runs below what their middle-phase momentum had suggested. Against a Rajasthan side in this kind of form, that shortfall proved insurmountable.
The result extended Rajasthan's winning streak to five of their last six IPL 2024 matches and edged the all-time head-to-head record to 16–15 in Mumbai's favour across 31 meetings. The margin tells its own story: this was not a close contest.
Venue and conditions
Sawai Mansingh Stadium has hosted 97 T20 matches and carries a clear pattern in its numbers. The average first-innings score is 165; the average second-innings score is 153. Teams batting second win 64% of the time here, which is a meaningful enough figure to factor into any analysis of a toss decision. Mumbai Indians won the toss, elected to bat, and paid the price for it.
The powerplay at this ground averages 46 runs across all T20s. Rajasthan's 61 without loss was therefore exceptional, and Mumbai's 45/3 was effectively two wickets below what the surface was likely to produce. Both powerplay phases shaped the match entirely. The average death-overs contribution of 39 runs is relatively modest, and while Mumbai scored 48 in that phase, the cost of 5 wickets meant the innings ended in a flurry of collapses rather than a genuine acceleration.
Dew is worth considering for evening matches at this venue. In April in Jaipur, temperatures drop after sunset and dew on an outfield can neutralise seam movement in the second innings, making conditions progressively easier for the team chasing. Rajasthan's smooth, wicket-free powerplay is consistent with a surface that became batting-friendly by the time they took the crease.
How to watch
IPL matches are broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sky Sports Cricket. Both live and on-demand coverage is available via Sky Go for existing subscribers, and NOW TV offers day passes and monthly sports memberships for those without a Sky package. UK start times for IPL matches depend on the local schedule in India: afternoon fixtures typically begin around 10:00 BST, while evening games usually get under way at 15:00 or 15:30 BST.
For the full IPL 2024 schedule and any fixture changes, Sky Sports' website carries up-to-date listings. Highlights are often available on the Sky Sports app within a few hours of the close of play.
Recent form
Rajasthan Royals came into this match in strong shape. Four wins from their previous five 2024 IPL outings, including victories over Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore, placed them among the division's form sides. Their only slip was a defeat to Gujarat Titans.
Mumbai Indians' form was patchier. Three wins and two losses across their previous five matches, with defeats to Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals bookending that run. The Chennai and Rajasthan defeats pointed to vulnerabilities against disciplined bowling attacks, particularly when the top order was put under early pressure. Sandeep Sharma proved that vulnerability was real again on 22 April.
