IPL 2018: School Cricketers to Get Free Passes to Witness Mumbai Indians' Home Games

Following the distribution of free passes, school cricketers will now get to watch the defending champions Mumbai Indians’ (MI) home matches at the iconic Wankhede Stadium during the ongoing eleventh edition of the cash-rich Indian Premier League (IPL).

Meanwhile, Mumbai had a worst possible start to this season of the league. They have won only one game out of the five fixtures so far.

Rohit Sharma-led Indians are yet to fix the right team combination and has been lacking the fizz to cross over the line.

On Sunday (April 22) night, they lost a last-over thriller to Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur.

The hosting team, Royals banked on Krishnappa Gowtham’s last-over heroics, as he struck ten runs to give his team the much-needed win.

Gowtham played a magical knock of 33 runs off just 11 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and two sixes – to take his team home.

Moreover, Sanju Samson (52) and Ben Stokes (40) also provided good support to take the team closer to the target.

However, previously, Mumbai batting first, posted 167 runs on the board with Surya Kumar Yadav (72) and Ishan Kishan (58) scoring the bulk of the runs.

Debutant Jofra Archer was stunning with the ball, as he bagged three for 22 in his four overs. Dhawal Kulkarni also provided good support as he claimed two wickets.

As a result, Rajasthan occupied the fifth spot in the IPL 2018 points table.

School cricketers to get passes for Mumbai games:

After increasing the number of Twenty20 match tickets for Mumbai’s first-class players from one to two tickets per game, the Committee of Administrators (CoA) appointed by the Bombay High Court for the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA), have now decided to provide the city’s inter-school champion teams an opportunity to witness the Mumbai in action at the Wankhede.

Acceding to the request of Mumbai Schools Sports Association (MSSA) cricket secretary Nadim Memon, CoA have decided to issue 36 IPL tickets (18-each) to Harris Shield winners, Al-Barkaat (Kurla) and the Rest of Schools team members for Tuesday’s (April 24) fixture against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).

The local two teams clashed recently at the Bandra Kurla Complex ground in Mumbai over the weekend.

Meanwhile, Giles Shield winners Rizvi Springfield will receive 18 match passes for the next game.

However, the other school members will get the rest 18 tickets.

“I am thankful to the CoA for accepting MSSA’s request. It is a great gesture from the MCA,” Memon told Mid-day.

However, Mumbai Indians will be desperate to turn things around in their next fixture at their own fortress.

Also read: AB de Villiers expresses admiration for Women’s Cricket