Jaipur, May 2, 2025 — The Sawai Mansingh Stadium buzzed with more than just the thrill of Mumbai Indians’ crushing 100-run victory over Rajasthan Royals last night. Amid the cheers and the sting of defeat for the home side, a quiet moment stole the show: Mumbai’s star batsman Rohit Sharma, fresh off a blazing 53, shared a touching exchange with Rajasthan Royals’ pacer Akash Madhwal, capping it with a nod to his wife, Ritika Sajdeh, in the stands.
Madhwal, playing his first match of the IPL 2025 season for Rajasthan, had a rough night. The 31-year-old fast bowler, once a Mumbai Indians standout, went wicketless, leaking 39 runs in four overs as Mumbai piled on 217 for two. Rajasthan crumbled at 117 in 16.1 overs, their playoff hopes snuffed out. But after the final ball, Madhwal, still in his pink Royals kit, approached his former captain with a gesture that cut through the game’s intensity. He folded his hands in a traditional namaste, a mark of respect, and held out his Rajasthan jersey.
Rohit, ever the class act, didn’t hesitate. He grabbed a pen, scrawled his autograph across the jersey, and then, with a grin, pointed toward Ritika in the stands. Madhwal, catching the cue, turned and repeated the gesture, acknowledging her with the same folded hands. The brief exchange, caught on camera, sparked a wave of chatter among fans, a flicker of warmth in a match defined by Mumbai’s ruthless dominance.
The moment carried weight beyond the game. Madhwal, who rose to fame under Rohit’s captaincy at Mumbai Indians with a stunning 5-for-5 spell in 2023, was facing his old team for the first time since his move to Rajasthan in the IPL 2025 auction. Rajasthan snapped him up for 1.2 crore, banking on his yorker-heavy arsenal to bolster their attack. Thursday’s outing didn’t go as planned, but his respect for Rohit, who led Mumbai to five IPL titles, was clear as day.
Mumbai’s win was a masterclass. Openers Rohit and Ryan Rickelton, who smashed 61 off 38, set the tone with a 116-run stand. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, both unbeaten on 48, hammered 94 runs in the last 44 balls. Rajasthan’s chase never got going—Trent Boult and Karn Sharma took three wickets each, while Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with two. The result vaulted Mumbai to the top of the points table, while Rajasthan joined Chennai Super Kings on the sidelines.
Madhwal’s night ended without a scalp, but his gesture to Rohit and Ritika was a reminder of cricket’s human side. Rohit’s point to his wife, a constant presence at his matches, added a personal touch to a night of professional triumph. The autographed jersey, now a keepsake, marked a moment of connection between two players on opposite sides of a brutal scoreline.
The match was played on May 1, 2025, at Jaipur’s Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Mumbai Indians scored 217 for 2 in 20 overs, with Rohit Sharma contributing 53 runs off 36 balls. Rajasthan Royals were bowled out for 117 in 16.1 overs. Akash Madhwal bowled four overs for Rajasthan, conceding 39 runs without taking a wicket.