The spotlight will be all on Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to host their inaugural game of the season at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday, April 1. The five-time IPL champions will clash with the first-ever champions, Rajasthan Royals (RR).
MI has experienced a dismal start to their season under new captain Hardik Pandya. They suffered a defeat to Gujarat Titans in their opening game, falling short by six runs in Ahmedabad. In their subsequent encounter, they conceded a staggering 277 runs in 20 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad, managing to score only 246/5 in Hyderabad. Following two disappointing outcomes, Mumbai will now compete in front of their home crowd for the first time.
Ahead of the game, Rohit Sharma was seen hanging out alongside India teammate Ravichandran Ashwin at the Wankhede Stadium.
The reception Hardik receives at the ground will be intriguing, given that it is the home of Rohit Sharma, whom the all-rounder replaced as MI skipper. Fans will be eager to witness how the team bounces back from their challenging start in the familiar surroundings of Wankhede Stadium.
Rajasthan Royals stand as one of the three undefeated teams in IPL 2024 to date. They initiated their campaign with a 20-run victory over Lucknow Super Giants in Jaipur. Continuing their winning streak, Sanju Samson and his team triumphed over the Delhi Capitals in a closely contested match.
Riyan Parag has emerged as a standout performer for Rajasthan. Across the two matches, he has amassed 127 runs at an impressive average of 127 and a striking rate of 171.62. The Royals will rely on the consistent performance of the Assam batter as they prepare to face Mumbai.
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