mi-eye-revival-as-in-form-suryakumar-returns-for-clash-against-dc

With both Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) languishing in the lower half of the IPL 2024 points table, Sunday's clash at the Wankhede Stadium presents an opportunity for either side to arrest their slide.

 

MI, who are yet to win a match this season, will be bolstered by the return of star batsman Suryakumar Yadav, who has recovered from an ankle injury and surgery.

 

Suryakumar's return a shot in the arm for MI

 

Suryakumar, a crucial cog in India's T20 batting line-up, missed the initial part of the tournament due to injury.

 

However, his return to the nets on Friday, batting without discomfort, provides a much-needed fillip for MI's batting, which has lacked consistency. 

 

Openers Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan have shown promise but haven't converted starts into big scores, while the middle-order, featuring youngsters like Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir, is yet to deliver a match-winning knock. 

 

Captain Hardik Pandya's struggles have added to MI's woes, although Sunday's match, expected to be attended by over 20,000 children, might offer some respite from the harsh reactions he has faced from fans in previous matches.

 

Bowling woes a concern for Mumbai

 

MI's bowling attack has also been inconsistent. The experiment of using Jasprit Bumrah in the powerplay during the last match against Rajasthan Royals backfired, as they failed to restrict the opposition to a manageable total.

 

Akash Madhwal's three-wicket haul was a solitary bright spot in an otherwise forgettable outing for the bowlers.

 

Pant's fifties keep DC afloat

 

DC, who have lost three out of their four matches, will be hoping to find inspiration from their skipper Rishabh Pant. The wicket-keeper batsman has been in decent form, scoring two consecutive fifties.

 

However, he has lacked support from the rest of the batting line-up.

 

David Warner and Tristan Stubbs have shown glimpses of brilliance, but the team needs more consistency from the likes of Prithvi Shaw, who will be playing at his home ground, the Wankhede Stadium.

 

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh, despite featuring in all their matches so far, hasn't been able to make a significant impact.

 

Bowling struggles haunt Delhi

 

DC's bowling woes were evident in their last match against Kolkata Knight Riders, where their bowlers leaked runs aplenty, allowing KKR to post a mammoth 272 on the board. The bowlers' inability to find the right line and length proved costly, and DC's chase fell well short.

 

Key players to watch:

• Mumbai Indians: Suryakumar Yadav (returning from injury), Jasprit Bumrah
• Delhi Capitals: Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw, Mitchell Marsh

With both teams desperate for a win, Sunday's encounter promises to be a closely contested affair. MI will be hoping that Suryakumar's return can spark their batting, while DC will look to build on Pant's good form and find better bowling support.

 

The match starts at 3:30 PM IST.