Mumbai Indians will strive to seal the deal after stumbling in a straightforward run-chase in their first match, as they face a formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League on March 27 in Hyderabad.
In their tournament opener against the Gujarat Titans, five-time champions MI showcased several strengths, including the sharp bowling of Jasprit Bumrah, Dewald Brevis’ significant contribution with the bat, and Rohit Sharma’s explosive batting at the beginning of the innings.
However, despite having a strong position with seven wickets in hand, MI couldn’t chase down 48 runs off 36 balls. Known for their slow starts in previous seasons, MI must avoid further lackluster performances in the intensely competitive 10-team event.
In the Indian Premier League 2024, Mumbai Indians seek to rebound after faltering in a straightforward run-chase in their opener, as they face a formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on March 27.
Despite showing promise in their tournament opener against the Gujarat Titans, with Jasprit Bumrah’s sharp bowling, Dewald Brevis’ impactful innings, and Rohit Sharma’s explosive batting, the five-time champions MI fell short. Struggling to chase down 48 runs off 36 balls with seven wickets in hand, MI, known for their slow starts, must avoid further lackluster performances in the increasingly competitive 10-team event.
In his debut as Mumbai’s captain, Hardik positioned himself at number seven to accommodate Tim David and Brevis higher in the batting order. However, considering his previous batting positions for the Gujarat Titans, there’s a valid argument for him to bat higher up.
Opener Ishan Kishan, returning to action after a hiatus, faced a brief stint, lasting only four balls against GT. With the T20 World Cup approaching, Kishan’s performances will be closely monitored, adding significance to his role. He needs to excel with both bat and gloves to secure a spot in the national squad.
Hardik anticipates better performances from spinners Shams Mulani and Piyush Chawla. Facing SRH on home turf, the Pat Cummins-led side demonstrated their capabilities against Kolkata Knight Riders.
While big-hitter Heinrich Klaasen nearly salvaged the match from a dire situation, the rest of the batters delivered subpar performances.
The opening pair of Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma has displayed potential, but consistency will be key for SRH to succeed in the competition.
SRH has put significant investment in pinch hitter Abdul Samad, and now it’s crucial for him to fulfill his potential.
Seasoned campaigner Bhuvneshwar Kumar faced a tough outing against Andre “Russell” on Saturday night and will be eager to make a strong comeback.
“It’s always a tough challenge in cricket to bowl to someone like Russell. It’s one of those situations where the game can swing either way. Who could have predicted we’d come so close? Unfortunately, just a bit too close for comfort. There’s plenty to be encouraged by, but also a couple of areas we need to work on,” remarked Cummins after the narrow defeat at Eden Gardens.
Squads:
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (c), Rohit Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Tim David, Shreyas Gopal, Ishan Kishan, Anshul Kamboj, Kumar Kartikeya, Akash Madhwal, Kwena Maphaka, Mohammad Nabi, Shams Mulani, Naman Dhir, Shivalik Sharma, Romario Shepherd, Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara, Tilak Varma, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Luke Wood, Suryakumar Yadav.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Pat Cummins (c), Abdul Samad, Abhishek Sharma, Aiden Markram, Travis Head, Wanindu Hasaranga, Marco Jansen, Rahul Tripathi, Washington Sundar, Glenn Phillips, Sanvir Singh, Heinrich Klaasen, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mayank Agarwal, T. Natarajan, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Upendra Singh Yadav, Umran Malik, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Shahbaz Ahmed, Jaydev Unadkat, Akash Singh, Jhathavedh Subramanyan.
