Having suffered three consecutive defeats, it became imperative for Mumbai Indians players to step away from the field for a brief period to recharge in IPL 2024. The franchise arranged a short trip for the players in Jamnagar, which transformed into a delightful team bonding experience. Having played and lost three, the traditional slow starters of the cash-rich league must get their campaign rolling against a struggling Delhi Capitals, who have registered only one win in three games so far.
Fans of Mumbai Indians were filled with excitement and relief on Friday on learning that Suryakumar Yadav, renowned as Mr. 360 and one of cricket’s cleanest ball strikers, had finally joined the squad for the first time this season after receiving clearance from the NCA. Whether he will feature in MI’s next match or not remains a topic for discussion, but his mere presence is expected to boost the team’s morale significantly. Undoubtedly, Surya stands out as one of the finest T20 batters of the modern era and has been a key player for the five-time IPL champions. His return will provide the much-needed stability to the middle order, which has been somewhat shaky.
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The 33-year-old has struggled against the Capitals, averaging just 27 with the bat. Coming off an injury break, it’s not always easy to regain one’s batting form, but there’s no doubt that Surya, despite his lack of recent game time, could be their X-factor. Although SKY may still not be at 100% fitness following his ankle injury, with the Impact Sub rule, one can surely expect to see him make an impact with the bat in this game. On a true Wankhede wicket, watching SKY in action will be a treat, and if he manages to find the boundary early on, MI’s Mr.360 will be difficult to stop. Another player eager to contribute and propel his team to victory is Jasprit Bumrah, who has remained wicketless in his last two games. The anticipation of how the crowd will welcome Hardik Pandya is also something to look forward to.
While Surya’s return is welcomed by MI, DC might miss the services of their star spinner Kuldeep Yadav, who is reportedly struggling with a groin niggle. If he misses out, it’ll be a significant setback for Delhi, particularly given their bowling struggles. Additionally, being an afternoon game, Kuldeep could have potentially exploited the wicket more. Anrich Nortje has been expensive, picking up wickets but conceding many runs, a trend seen with Ishant Sharma as well. MI batters, known for their aggressive approach, will likely relish facing them, with players like Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Tim David, and SKY looking to exploit the pace to clear the fence. The onus will be on Axar Patel to make a significant impact with the ball.
In IPL history, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals have clashed eight times at the Wankhede Stadium, with MI emerging victorious in five encounters and DC winning three. Both teams have underperformed in IPL 2024 so far, but the presence of ‘SKY’ could potentially be the decisive factor.
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