Hardik Pandya is all set to lead Mumbai Indians for the first time at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2024.
Games are coming thick and fast in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as it enters its third week. Mumbai Indians (MI) are going to host their first game of the season at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, April 1. The five-time IPL champions will collide with the first-ever champions Rajasthan Royals (RR).
Mumbai Indians have had a terrible start to their season under new captain Hardik Pandya. They lost to Gujarat Titans in their opening game by six runs in Ahmedabad. In their second encounter, they conceded a record 277 runs in their 20 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad before being restricted to 246/5 in Hyderabad. After two disappointing results, Mumbai will be playing in front of their home fans for the first time. It will be interesting to see the reception Hardik gets at the ground, which is the home of Rohit Sharma, who the all-rounder replaced as MI skipper.
Hardik’s decision-making has been criticized in the first couple of games and he hasn’t made a mark with the bat and ball. The 30-year-old has also been booed at the stadiums. Hardik will have to dig deep and come out with a performance that wins the hearts of the MI faithful.
Rajasthan Royals are two of the three unbeaten sides in IPL 2024 thus far. They started with a 20-run win against Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur. In their second game, Sanju Samson and Co. got the better of Delhi Capitals in a tight affair.
Riyan Parag has been one of the star performers for Rajasthan. In the two matches, he has scored 127 runs at an average of 127 and a strike rate of 171.62. The Royals would hope that the Assam batter continues his good form against Mumbai.
MI vs RR Match Details:
| Match | Mumbai Indians Vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2024 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Date & Time | Monday, April 1, 7:30 PM (IST) |
Wankhede Stadium Pitch Report:
Wankhede Stadium is known for being a batting paradise. The surface stays pretty much the same for the entire 40 overs and with short boundaries, a lot of runs are on offer for the batters. The dew factor makes things a little easier for the chasing teams at this venue. In 109 IPL games at the Wankhede Stadium, teams batting first have won 50, while chasing teams have won 59. The average first-innings score is 169. Talking about the weather, there is no rain threat and fans can expect a full game on Monday.
Head-to-Head Record
| Matches Played | Rajasthan Royals won | Mumbai Indians won | No Result | First Played | Last Played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 12 | 15 | 01 | May 7, 2008 | April 30, 2023 |
MI vs RR Probable Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians: Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Piyush Chawla, G Coetzee, Jasprit Bumrah, Kwena Maphaka Impact Player – Vishnu Vinod
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Shimron Hetmyer, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan, Sandeep Sharma Impact Player – Nandre Burger
Probable Best Players of the Match
Probable Best Batter: Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 24 off 12 balls against Lucknow in the first game before getting out for 5 against Delhi. He has been in imperious touch in the lead-up to the IPL. Wankhede Stadium is the southpaw’s home ground when he plays for Mumbai in domestic cricket. He will know exactly what to expect from the surface. Last year, he smashed a 62-ball 124 against Mumbai Indians at this venue. He will be hoping to replicate his heroics once again this season.
Probable Best Bowler: Trent Boult will be returning to his former IPL home where he had done quite well, especially with the new ball. In the 2020 season, he picked up 25 wickets in 15 matches at an economy rate of 7.97. The new ball does a bit under the lights at the Wankhede Stadium. He will look to make the best use of it and give Rajasthan some early wickets.
Today’s Match Prediction: Rajasthan Royals to win the match
