Mumbai Indians (MI) have stormed back into playoff contention with a commanding third consecutive win, this time against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Sunday, April 20. The win was not just a statement on the field but also brought out the lighter side of the MI camp post-match, as skipper Hardik Pandya shared a playful moment with team owner Akash Ambani.
After the victory, Hardik was spotted having some fun with ‘Champak’—the newly-named robot dog introduced by the IPL broadcasters. With a remote control in hand, the MI captain amused himself by making the four-legged machine lunge towards Ambani, giving the team owner a light scare. It was all in good spirits as Hardik enjoyed experimenting with the futuristic gadget.
ALSO READ: Match 39 (KKR vs GT) – 3 Player Battles To Watch Out For
Champak, first introduced a few weeks ago by commentator Danny Morrison, has quickly become a fan favourite. The robot dog has interacted with players from various teams, adding a quirky and innovative touch to the broadcast and behind-the-scenes experience.
Areyy Idhi remote control kukka naa 🤣, nenu inni rojulu robo kukka anukuntunna pic.twitter.com/SL4RoNQ1qO
— EpicCommentsTelugu (@EpicCmntsTelugu) April 21, 2025
On the cricketing front, Hardik made a crucial decision at the toss, opting to bowl first. CSK had a flying start in the powerplay, largely due to debutant Ayush Mhatre’s entertaining 32 off 15 balls. However, Shaik Rasheed’s slow-paced 19 off 20 deliveries at the other end slightly stalled the momentum.
Towards the latter half, Ravindra Jadeja and Shivam Dube brought CSK back on track with fifties, anchoring the innings to a competitive 176/5. However, with dew settling in, MI’s chase was expected to be smoother—and it was.
ALSO READ: Match 39 (KKR vs GT) – Probable XII and Fantasy XI Predictions
Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton provided a solid opening stand of 63 runs. After Rickelton’s departure, Suryakumar Yadav joined Rohit, and the duo sealed the match with a spectacular unbeaten 114-run stand in just 54 balls. Rohit’s 76* and Surya’s explosive 68* helped MI register a dominant nine-wicket win with 26 balls to spare, pushing them up to sixth on the points table and reigniting their playoff hopes.
