In their second encounter this season, Mumbai Indians are gearing up to face off against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 55th match of the 2024 Indian Premier League season, set to unfold at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
In what seems almost certain, Hardik Pandya-led MI has unfortunately become the first team to face elimination this season. It’s evident that the captaincy switch hasn’t yielded the desired results for the Men in Blue, with both captain Pandya and former skipper Rohit Sharma unable to steer the team away from troubled waters.
As for their standings, the hosts are languishing in 9th place on the points table, having secured only 3 wins and suffered 8 losses in their 11 matches.
Conversely, SRH, under the leadership of Pat Cummins, has experienced a rollercoaster season, marked by impressive victories and a couple of disappointing losses. Currently occupying the 4th position on the table, they have accumulated 12 points through 6 wins and 4 losses in their 10 matches.
What has happened so far?
Despite their illustrious history as five-time IPL champions, MI found themselves off to a rocky start with three consecutive losses against Gujarat Titans, SRH, and Rajasthan Royals.
In their following two matches, they clinched victories against Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, their momentum was short-lived as they suffered a heartbreaking defeat to Chennai Super Kings in a thrilling encounter.
After playing four matches at home, they embarked on an away game against Punjab Kings, where the visitors secured a 9-run victory. Since then, the Mark Boucher-coached side has been desperate for two points, enduring four consecutive losses against RR, DC, Lucknow Super Giants, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Meanwhile, SRH began their season with a nail-biting defeat against KKR but showcased their dominance in the subsequent match against MI, shattering an 11-year-old record for the highest-ever IPL total by posting 277 runs and ultimately emerging victorious.
Despite this, they stumbled against GT, suffering a defeat by 7 wickets. However, they bounced back with four consecutive wins against CSK, PBKS, RCB, and DC. Nevertheless, both RCB and CSK avenged their earlier losses by defeating SRH in subsequent matches with significant margins of 35 and 78 runs, respectively.
In their latest encounter against RR, SRH clinched victory on the last ball, becoming the second team to defeat RR in 2024.
Head to Head Record
The two teams have faced each other on 22 occasions in the past, resulting in a closely contested head-to-head record. The Mumbai-based franchise has emerged victorious in 12 encounters, while SRH closely trails with 10 wins.
In their previous encounter in IPL 2024, SRH broke the record for the highest team total in IPL which was yet again broken by Sunrisers in a match against RCB. Against MI, the Kavya Maran-owned side posted 277 runs on the board with Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Heinrich Klaasen posting quick half-centuries.
In response, MI got pretty close courtesy of Tilak Varma’s innings at his home ground but Pat Cummins’ spell proved to be the difference between the two sides as the Australian took 2 wickets and gave away only 35 runs in his spell.
Key Players
Bumrah currently leads the wicket-taking charts in IPL 2024
Jasprit Bumrah (Mumbai Indians): Jasprit Bumrah, the stalwart bowler of MI, has consistently delivered impressive performances throughout the tournament. Currently adorned with the coveted Purple Cap, Bumrah has amassed 17 wickets in 11 matches, boasting an impressive bowling average of 16.12 and an economy rate of 6.25.
In a recent clash against Hyderabad, Bumrah displayed his prowess by conceding only 36 runs in 4 overs, maintaining an economy rate of 9, while other MI bowlers struggled with economies exceeding 11. As a seasoned bowler, the 30-year old speedster remains a pivotal figure to watch out for in the upcoming clash against the hard-hitting SRH batters.
Travis Head (Sunrisers Hyderabad): Despite experiencing a recent dip in form, Travis Head remains a formidable threat to opposing bowlers due to his fearless approach at the crease.
Currently occupying the 8th position in terms of run-scoring this season, Head has the potential to ascend to the third position if he manages to score at least 22 runs in Monday’s match. As the leading run-scorer for SRH in IPL 2024, the southpaw has amassed an impressive tally of 396 runs in 9 matches, boasting an average of 44 and a striking rate nearing 195.
In a previous encounter against MI at Hyderabad, Head showcased his dominance with a staggering strike rate of 258.33, smashing 62 runs off just 24 deliveries. He will undoubtedly be aiming to replicate such a performance at the Wankhede Stadium.
Team News from Both Camps
The teams are breathing a sigh of relief as no official injury concerns plague their squads but the current form of certain players is undoubtedly cause for concern as the tournament approaches its crucial stages.
Predicted XIs
Mumbai Indians: Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Nehal Wadhera, Hardik Pandya ©, Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara
Sunrisers Hyderabad: Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Anmolpreet Singh, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Nitish Reddy, Abdul Samad, Shahbaz Ahmed, Marco Jansen, Pat Cummins ©, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, T Natarajan
Prediction
Based on their current form, the Daniel Vettori-coached side appears to be in a league of their own compared to the hosts, positioning them as strong contenders for victory against a struggling MI team.