Clash of Titans: Klaasen vs Bumrah as SRH and Mumbai Indians Seek First Points in IPL 2024
As Sunrisers Hyderabad SRH) and Mumbai Indians prepare for their IPL 2024 clash, the spotlight shines on Heinrich Klaasen and Jasprit Bumrah, two formidable forces in T20 cricket.
Last season, Sunrisers Hyderabad lost seven of their eight home games. This year, will they begin with a victory?
Bumrah vs Klaasen Clash
Heinrich Klaasen of Sunrisers Hyderabad has become one of T20 cricket’s most formidable batters over the past few years. With 448 runs at a strike rate of 177 in the IPL 2023, he was their highest scorer. He started 2024 at Eden Gardens with a fierce performance, almost overshadowing Andre Russell with his 63 off 29 balls. Klaasen was the only reason the SRH kept in the race for a prolonged period of time, even though all of the other SRH batters received starts against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
The Mumbai Indians in Hyderabad on Wednesday can present Klaasen with a fresh test. Almost, anyway. He has only faced one ball in his head-to-head match against Jasprit Bumrah, and he has already scored one run. He has faced 20 deliveries from Bumrah in ODIs and has 18 runs for one wicket conceded. A fresh match-up between two elite players is rare in the overabundance of franchise and international cricket.
Given the significance of Klaasen to Sunrisers, Mumbai may decide to save most of Bumrah’s overs for when he is in the thick of the bat. They will undoubtedly limit the amount of spin bowled to Klaasen, who has a strike rate of 193 and an average of 148.5 against spin in Twenty20 cricket since the beginning of 2023. But Klaasen is also no pushover when it comes to pace. With a career strike rate of 148.45 against the quicks, he easily defeated Mitchell Starc on Saturday, hitting three sixes in one over.
However, Bumrah is typically a class apart. He returned to the league with a session of 3 for 14 in Mumbai’s season opener against Gujarat Titans, despite two of his overs coming at the death, following his absence from the IPL 2023 due to a back ailment. This all sets up the possibility of an exciting match between Mumbai and Sunrisers as they both aim for their first IPL 2024 points against Klaasen.
For the Sunrisers, who finished last season with six straight home losses and would really like to get off to a winning start in Hyderabad this year, the match is particularly important.
Spotlight On Hardik and Aiden Markram
Hardik Pandya was jeered when he arrived at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the home of the team he captained for the first time in the Indian Premier League, during his debut as captain of the Mumbai Indians. On social media, he received a lot of hate as well, particularly for ordering Rohit Sharma to field on the boundary.
A few of Hardik’s other captaincy choices were also questioned, such as choosing to bat at No. 7 below Tim David and open the bowling himself, only bringing on Bumrah in the fourth over of the Titans innings. Will Hardik Pandya get more love in Hyderabad?
Prior to this season, Pat Cummins took over as captain of the Sunrisers franchise in Hyderabad after Aiden Markram guided the Eastern Cape Sunrisers to consecutive SA20 championships. Markram’s reputation has declined in Hyderabad. Selectee Markram scored eighteen runs off of thirteen balls in SRH’s first-ever match in Kolkata. He needs to turn things around this year to maintain his position above of Travis Head and Glenn Phillips in the overseas pecking order, following a dismal IPL 2023 (248 runs at a strike rate of 126).
Also Read: Mumbai Wins IPL 2020 to Crowrn Five Times Champions
Also Read: Mumbai Indians’ Leadership Transition
Team News
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Wanindu Hasaranga, a legspinner for the Sunrisers, has not yet joined the team and is not anticipated to be available for at least a week as he seeks medical advice abroad over persistent soreness in his left heel. The Sunrisers must decide if they want to stick with Marco Jansen—who cost a lot against KKR—as their foreign bowling option going forward.
After bowling at Eden Gardens, SRH changed their Impact Player approach by bringing in opener Abhishek Sharma to lead the chase instead of fast bowler T Natarajan.
Mumbai Indians
The Mumbai Indians are still without Suryakumar Yadav while he heals following surgery on his ankle at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru. Additionally, he is unlikely to be ready for April 1’s home opener for Mumbai.
When Mumbai bowled first against the Titans, they only included three foreign players in their XI. They replaced quick bowler Luke Wood with middle-order hitter Dewald Brevis to pursue the ball.
Stats
*The Mumbai Indians have defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad four times in the last five meetings.
*Jasprit Bumrah has 16 wickets against Sunrisers in 13 games.
*Pat Cummins strikes out at 181.81 against the Mumbai Indians while averaging 40 at bat.
Dewald Brevis on Captaincy Change
The team, in my opinion, is all the same. We still have objectives, and the team dynamic is excellent. Along with Hardik, Rohit is still an incredible leader, and I learn something new from him every day. He teaches me things. I think our team is in a great place and that we are prepared for whatever is ahead of us.
Match Time
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) vs Mumbai Indians (MI)
19:30 (IST)Â Â 20:00 (GMT)
