During the recent game against his former team, the Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya faced jeers from fans in Ahmedabad. Mumbai Indians suffered a defeat by six runs in that match. Their next fixture is against the Rajasthan Royals, and it will mark their first home game at the Wankhede Stadium, scheduled for the following Monday.
Hardik Pandya’s captaincy under spotlight
The leadership of Hardik Pandya is under close examination after he held back Jasprit Bumrah during the initial powerplay overs. Sunrisers Hyderabad batter Heinrich Klaasen expressed surprise at Mumbai Indians’ decision. Mumbai’s choice to remove Bumrah from the attack after his fourth over on Wednesday raised eyebrows among fans, particularly considering the seasoned paceman’s reputation. Bumrah’s absence during the powerplay was notable, and he only returned to bowl in the 13th over, by which point Hyderabad had already amassed 173-3. Klaasen capitalized on the situation, scoring a rapid 80 off 34 balls, while Aiden Markram contributed 42 runs off 28 balls.
Travis Head’s earlier knock of 62 and Abhishek Sharma’s 63 propelled Hyderabad to a formidable total of 277-3 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite a valiant effort in response, Mumbai fell short by 31 runs, reaching a total of 246-5.
Reflecting on Mumbai’s strategy, Klaasen remarked, “They didn’t bowl their best bowler in the powerplay… that was our plan.” He emphasized the potency of Hyderabad’s batting lineup, noting that Mumbai’s decision to hold back Bumrah allowed them to set the tempo early on.
Former Sunrisers coach Tom Moody echoed Klaasen’s sentiments, stressing the importance of utilizing key players like Bumrah during the powerplay to maximize wicket-taking opportunities. Moody emphasized Bumrah’s prowess as a wicket-taker and questioned Mumbai’s decision to deprive him of the chance to disrupt Hyderabad’s momentum during the early stages of their innings.
Record-breaking day
Sunrisers Hyderabad set a record IPL total of 277-3 and defeated Mumbai Indians by 31 runs in a match marked by an onslaught of sixes on Wednesday. Travis Head’s rapid 62 off 24 balls led Hyderabad’s charge, surpassing the previous best of 263-5 by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2013. Mumbai’s response saw a flurry of sixes, totaling 38, breaking the IPL record. Left-handed Tilak Varma’s 64 off 34 balls was noteworthy, but Mumbai fell short despite Rohit Sharma’s brisk start. Pat Cummins’ 2-35 guided Hyderabad to their first win. Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram’s partnership propelled Hyderabad to their imposing total.
