MI vs KKR Man of the Match Today: Who Won MOTM Award in Mumbai vs Kolkata IPL 2023 Match at Wankhede Stadium?

Mumbai Indians have defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets in the 22nd match of the ongoing 16th season of the Indian Premier League at the Wankhede Stadium today. In what is MI’s second win in a row, it is KKR’s second loss in a row.

Although not part of the Playing XI, Mumbai captain Rohit Sharma (20) batted in the second innings as an Impact Player to put together a brisk 29-ball 65-run opening partnership alongside wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan (58). Pick of their batters on a Sunday evening, Kishan smashed five fours and sixes each at a strike rate of 232 to nullify the challenge of a 186-run target.

In addition to earning a couple of points, Indians must also be relieved at stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav managing to contribute on the back of an assured 43 (25) comprising four fours and three sixes.

With key batters excelling at their home ground, MI were able to register a victory with 14 balls remaining in the match. Apart from the top-order, the likes of Tilak Varma (30) and Tim David (24*) also contributed in a victory.

MI vs KKR Man of the Match

Only the second player from Kolkata to score a century, Impact Player Venkatesh Iyer single-handedly propelled the visitors to 185/6 in 20 overs. A gem of a maiden T20 century saw the 28-year old player scoring 104 (51) with the help of six fours and nine sixes at a strike rate of 203.92.

Iyer, who had welcomed most of the opposition’s bowlers into the attack by scoring multiple boundaries, didn’t get affected by the lack of contribution from the other end.

Only the second instance of a player from the losing team winning a match award this season, Iyer pinned down all other top-performers to be declared the Player of the Match.

“Would have been happier if we would have finished on the winning note but nonetheless, pleased with my effort. That’s the role given to me by the management and it’s my job to repay them,” Iyer told host broadcaster Star Sports Network during the post-match presentation ceremony.

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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