Hardik Pandya doppelganger steals spotlight
A light moment broke out during the match when a Hardik Pandya lookalike was spotted in the crowd. The camera picked him up on the big screen during the game, and the reaction in the stadium was instant. Hardik Pandya himself saw it and could not hold back his laughter. He smiled, shook his head and gave a thumbs-up towards the screen, acknowledging the double.
The clip quickly became the talking point among fans inside the ground. The lookalike had been sitting casually in the stands wearing a similar hairstyle and general appearance, which made the moment even funnier for those watching live. There were also claims that actor Siddharth Jadhav was seen in an MI jersey in the stands, adding to the unusual crowd moments, though that remains unconfirmed from official sources.
For a brief spell, the cricket paused in feeling as the crowd enjoyed the lighter side of the evening. Hardik’s reaction summed it up best, as he kept smiling even after the camera moved away.
Click here for video – https://x.com/CricketValence/status/2047338797856383127
Samson leads from the front at Wankhede
Chennai Super Kings, after winning the toss and opting to bat first, posted 181 for 6 in 20 overs. Sanju Samson led the innings with a controlled 78 off 43 balls, holding the middle order together after early wickets. Jamie Overton finished unbeaten on 15 off 7, giving the innings a late push.
Mumbai Indians’ bowling lacked control in patches, with Hardik Pandya going for 38 runs in his 2 overs, which shifted momentum CSK’s way in the middle phase. The rest of the attack also found it hard to contain the flow of runs on a good batting surface.
The match stayed open, but CSK’s total looked competitive given the conditions.