Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians (MI) lock horns with Rajasthan Royals (RR) as Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bowl first in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on April 1. While MI lost their last two matches against SRH and GT, RR have clinched back-to-back wins in their previous encounters. Talking about the team combinations, Samson brought South Africa star Nandre Burger in RR's playing XI in place of Sandeep. While Pandya introduced Akash Madhwal in Mumbai's playing XI, however, during the toss he mistakenly said he is playing the same team he fielded against SRH.
What do the captains say?
After losing the toss MI skipper Pandya said:
“We were planning to bowl first. It's quite exciting to be a part of this game. We always look forward to the future, need to follow the process. Looking forward to playing a brand of cricket everyone enjoys. Playing the same team.”
Meanwhile RR skipper Samson said:
“We want to bowl first. The wicket looks fresh, it's the first game of the season, will get help for the fast bowlers. We would like to keep on doing the same things. Sandeep misses out, he is not fit. Burger comes in.”
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Mumbai Indians (Playing XI):
Ishan Kishan(w), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Jasprit Bumrah, Kwena Maphaka
Mumbai Indians Subs: Dewald Brevis, Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, Nehal Wadhera, Shams Mulani
Rajasthan Royals (Playing XI):
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson(w/c), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Avesh Khan, Nandre Burger, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Rajasthan Royals Subs: Rovman Powell, Tanush Kotian, Kuldeep Sen, Shubham Dubey, Abid Mushtaq
Head-to-Head
In the IPL history, MI and RR have clashed with each other in 28 matches. Mumbai have secured victory in 15 of these encounters, while Rajasthan have triumphed in 12. Additionally, one match concluded without a result.
Pitch Report
“It's pitch number 7. 63m and 65m square boundaries respectively, 74m down the ground. This surface wasn't used last year, the two tracks adjacent to it were used. If you bat first, you need to score big here. It's a red soil pitch, looks great and has a generous covering of grass. You are going to see a lot of runs. Spinners won't be effective,” Brian Lara analysed the pitch.
Notably, A lot of runs were scored at this venue last year, could well be the same case this season.
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