Dale Steyn’s early IPL 2025 prediction of the MI vs SRH clash breaking the 300-run barrier felt flat at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. On a rather tricky wicket, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head put on a rather sedate opening stand. It pales in comparison to their last game, where the SRH openers smashed a 171-run stand in just 12 overs.
Abhishek, Head drop anchor in MI vs SRH
Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the Wankhede Stadium having made a mockery of a 245-run chase in their last game. In a stadium with short boundaries and batting-friendly conditions, the MI vs SRH was expected to be another run-scoring affair. So much so, that former SRH pacer Dale Steyn expected the 2024 finalists to break the 300-run barrier.
However, Abhishek and Travis were forced to drop anchor on a not-so-typical wicket in Mumbai. With the ball gripping and holding up, the SRH openers were conservative, riding their luck in the opening partnership. While they smashed 83-0 in their last game in the first 6 overs, the number dropped to a mere 46-0 in Mumbai on Thursday.
The visitors only got to their 50 in the seventh over of the innings. The duo failed to hit a six, a feat unfathomable for the duo given their recent pyrotechnics. Head, in fact was seen practising shots down the ground before the game, suggesting that he would take an anchor role in the MI vs SRH clash. Abhishek was eventually dismissed for a 28-ball 40, while Head was dismissed for a 29-ball 28. It was the Australian’s first innings with a sub-100 strike rate when he played more than 10 balls since 2024.
SRH’s reliance on Travishek?
Sunrisers’ rely heavily on Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma to lead them to victory. The duo averages 80 in wins, striking at an economy of over 14. In contrast, those numbers drop to 14.50 in average and 8.78 in terms of required rate. The duo came out swinging once again at Wankhede and rode their luck, with both afforded a charmed life. While they did put on a sizeable partnership again, it was well short of their explosive standard.
Editor's Pick
Cricket
England players from CSK, RCB & GT to exit IPL 2025 after group stage
Top Stories
