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The Rajasthan Royals vs Mumbai Indians game will feature Vaibhav Sooryavanshi going up against Jasprit Bumrah for the first time. Both men were in the lineups when these sides met last season, but Sooryavanshi was dismissed for a two-ball duck.
The 15-year-old has scored 83 runs in two matches at a strike rate of 237.14, including a 15-ball fifty against CSK. Bumrah, on the other hand, has been wicketless but has an economy of seven. With the stage set for a thrilling contest between the young prospect and the master pacer, Aaron Finch and Abhinav Mukund weighed in on the battle.
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The former Australia captain said that Bumrah will keep plans and tricks for each batter and will look to ball full and try to knock Sooryavanshi over if he gets to bowl in the powerplay.
"I don't think it really matters how he lines up against you. I mean, it's such an unusual prospect when you're looking at a 15-year-old. He's closer to not being a teenager than he is to getting out of being a teenager."
"Bumrah's a wonderful bowler. He has plans and tricks for each and every batter. But Sooryavanshi with his ability to walk in from the start and just take on any attack. It's so special to see a young kid play with the freedom that he's got. I'd expect Bumrah to go really full if he does bowl earlier than what we've said."
"I know he has bowled a couple of overs in the power play, but if they do give him a ball first up. He will go really full, try and knock him over with a fraction a swing," said Finch.
HOW WILL SOORYAVANSHI TREAT BUMRAH?
Sooryavanshi isn't someone who plays according to merit and not by reputation. When he scored his record-breaking hundred against GT last season, the youngster destroyed the likes of Mohammed Siraj, Ishant Sharma and Rashid Khan.
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This was pointed out by Mukund in his analysis, saying that the RR opener will treat Bumrah like any other bowler in the league.
"I don't think he thinks before doing such things. I think he just goes for the ball. He reacts, which is the greatest thing, because as a young man, you have a lot of clutter in your head. This guy doesn't think of all of those things. He's got 100 against what Siraj, Ishant Sharma and Rashid Khan."
"I don't think it matters to him who bowls at him. I think he just plays the ball on merit, which is fabulous to see from a 15-year-old. He's got exceptional skill. And he would play Bumrah just like any other bowler, if that's fair to say," said Mukund.
MI are looking to bounce back from the loss to DC while RR will aim to make it three out of three in IPL 2026.
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