Commencing their journey in the new IPL season with similar setbacks—narrow defeats—Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians are aiming for their maiden victory as they collide at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Wednesday. Mumbai Indians, having clinched the title five times, endured a six-run defeat against Gujarat Titans in their tournament opener, marking their 12th consecutive loss. Conversely, Sunrisers Hyderabad, champions in 2016, nearly clinched a high-scoring thriller but fell short by four runs against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Sunrisers, known for their slow starts, have lost seven out of their ten opening fixtures since their debut in 2013, with two losses against KKR.
Both teams boast new captains eager to make their mark, particularly Hardik Pandya, the visiting captain, who has faced criticism since taking over from Rohit Sharma. Pandya’s tactics against Gujarat Titans drew attention, with MI batting coach Kieron Pollard defending the decision to send him to bat at No. 7 as a “collective decision.” Despite leading Titans to victory in their inaugural season (2022) and reaching the final in the subsequent one, Pandya is keen to win back fans’ approval through stellar performances.
Middle-order batsman Dewald Brevis emphasized that contrary to public perception, the team environment remains positive. “The team environment remains unchanged, with consistent goals and great camaraderie. Rohit continues to be an exceptional leader, and I continue to learn from him as well as from Hardik.”
On the batting front, Rohit showcased his aggressive style against Gujarat, but Ishan Kishan faces pressure after a lackluster performance. The absence of Suryakumar Yadav adds to the burden on players like Tilak Varma, Brevis, and Tim David, all capable of handling diverse situations. With Bumrah leading the bowling attack, Mumbai, holding a 12-9 win-loss record against SRH, possess a diverse bowling arsenal in Gerald Coetzee, Luke Wood, and Piyush Chawla.
The hosts, boasting a revamped squad, are eager to kickstart their home leg with a win. Despite falling short in their chase of a 209-run target against KKR, Heinrich Klaasen’s brisk 63 off 29 balls almost propelled them to victory. However, Sunrisers faltered in the final over after losing Klaasen and Shahbaz Nadeem. Despite the setback, SRH remain optimistic. While Mayank Agarwal and Abhishek Sharma impressed with the bat, Aiden Markram needs to find form swiftly. The SRH bowling unit struggled in the latter stages against KKR, with Andre Russell inflicting heavy damage.
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