14-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Suryawanshi will face a tough challenge on Thursday in Jaipur when he plays his fourth IPL match for Rajasthan Royals. After creating a buzz by scoring the fastest century in IPL history off just 35 balls, Vaibhav is now set to take on world-renowned bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. He will need to be extremely cautious while facing them.
Mumbai Indians are coming into the match with five straight wins and are currently placed third on the points table. With a victory, they aim to move past Punjab Kings and secure the second position. Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, kept their playoff hopes alive by winning their previous match, but defeating a strong Mumbai side won’t be easy. Rajasthan is currently placed eighth with six points.
With Sanju Samson still out due to a side strain, Vaibhav Suryawanshi got a chance to debut. In just three innings, he has become a talking point in the cricket world. Samson last played on April 16, and with no clarity on his return, Vaibhav will again be opening the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal. The duo had a solid 166-run partnership against Gujarat Titans to help chase down a 210-run target comfortably.
In the bowling department, Rajasthan has been struggling. Shimron Hetmyer, part of the lower middle order, has been under pressure due to below-par performances. Jofra Archer has taken wickets but has also been expensive, conceding nearly 10 runs an over. Sandeep Sharma has also been costly, and none of the main Rajasthan bowlers have an economy rate below nine.
Jasprit Bumrah’s return has boosted Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya. Despite a poor start to the season, the team has bounced back with five wins. After their recent victory over Lucknow Super Giants, Pandya said the competition is tough and the team must continue playing good cricket and stay prepared for each match to maintain their winning rhythm.
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One positive for Mumbai in the last match was the all-round performance of Corbin Bosch, who not only took a wicket but also batted with a strike rate of 200. Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma have also found their form, which could spell trouble for opposing teams.
Probable playing XI for Rajasthan Royals includes Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Suryawanshi, Nitish Rana, Riyan Parag (captain), Dhruv Jurel (wicketkeeper), Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jofra Archer, Maheesh Theekshana, Sandeep Sharma, and Yudhvir Singh Charak. Impact player options are Shubham Dubey or Tushar Deshpande.
Probable playing XI for Mumbai Indians includes Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Will Jacks, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (captain), Naman Dhir, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, and Jasprit Bumrah. Impact player options are Rohit Sharma or Karn Sharma.