In the high-octane world of the IPL, where fireworks are expected from the opening batters, it was an unsung hero who stole the spotlight in Mumbai Indians' (MI) triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 17. Will Jacks, the all-rounder for MI, demonstrated that sometimes the quietest approach is the most effective one. Coming on to bowl after the powerplay, Jacks was tasked with one of the toughest jobs—dealing with SRH’s dangerous opening duo, Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.
With SRH’s top-order already looking to set the game on fire, Jacks had to be at his sharpest. But instead of rushing in with reckless aggression, he played a waiting game—drawing the batsmen into his web. "I knew they were going to come hard at me, being the sixth bowler," said Jacks in his post-match interview. "So, I used the conditions and the pitch to my advantage. I wasn’t going to bowl too aggressively. It was about controlling the game, not just taking wickets."
And control the game he did. Jacks cleverly bowled wide lines, knowing that both Head and Sharma loved to charge down the track and drive straight. By using the full width of the pitch and maintaining good lengths, he restricted the batsmen’s scoring options. His first over was a brilliant containment, giving away only seven runs, before he took down Ishan Kishan (2 off 3) and Travis Head (28 off 29) in quick succession.
But Jacks wasn’t done yet. With the bat, he top-scored for MI, contributing a crucial 36 off 26 balls to help chase down SRH’s target of 163. His all-round performance, both with the ball and the bat, earned him the Player of the Match award, cementing his role as a key player for MI in their push for the title.
In the end, Jacks didn’t just keep dangerous batters quiet—he outsmarted them with a blend of strategy, precision, and calm under pressure. It was a performance that showed everyone that true greatness sometimes comes from playing the quiet game, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.