What

Sunrisers Hyderabad will take on defending champions Mumbai Indians in Match 7 of VIVO IPL 2018. SRH were barely tested in their season opener against the Rajasthan Royals, while MI suffered an upset defeat in their season opening tie.

Sunrisers prepared well, played a couple of practice matches in the days leading to their opener, and that showed in their performance in the match. Bowling first, every player called on to bowl hit their lengths right away and maintained excellent discipline throughout; as a result, SRH were able to restrict RR for 125-9, after which Shikhar Dhawan and captain Kane Williamson made lightwork of the chase with a century partnership.

The Mumbai Indians have had a couple of days to recover from the shock defeat they suffered at the hands of the Chennai Super Kings; in reviewing their performance, the team would have identified positives and picked out areas they could have done better. Historically, MI have had a problem with their opening pair, and that problem has extended to this season too – though it is because of a problem of surplus. MI have Rohit Sharma, who has succeeded as opener at the international level, and then they have the two destructive left-handers Evin Lewis and Ishan Kishan. The popular opinion is that MI should open with the two left-handers, but the team decided to go with Rohit & Lewis in the previous match. Will they persist with that strategy, or will they send the two left-handers upfront and give them the opportunity to put the opposition under pressure from the very beginning?

This contest could well be decided on who – between Sunrisers’ bowling attack and Mumbai Indians’ batting line-up – has the better evening.

When

12 April 2018, 2000Hrs (IST)

Where

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

Impact Batsmen

Shikhar Dhawan has been in remarkable form in limited overs cricket this year; the left-hander has scored 418 runs in 9 T20 matches this year at an average of 52.25 – those runs being scored at a strike-rate of 146.15. Dhawan is the one player in the Sunrisers’ top order capable of playing the long innings and batting aggressively and his team will need a big contribution from him.

In stark contrast to the Sunrisers’, the Mumbai Indians have an explosive top-order, and they will need at least one of Rohit Sharma, Evin Lewis or Ishan Kishan to do plenty of damage with the bat. Krunal Pandya has become a crucial player in MI’s scheme of things; the elder of the Pandya brothers has now made crucial 40s in three consecutive innings – against KKR in the last season’s Qualifier 2, in the Final and in this season’s opener.

Impact Bowlers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, given his fantastic record against MI, will be desperate to get the ball in hand. He will fancy early success too, given that Rohit Sharma is a shaky beginner. Billy Stanlake against the MI top three could be an interesting contest too, while Rashid Khan will have a big role to play in the middle overs. Jasprit Bumrah and Mustafizur Rahman are MI’s strike bowlers, and the team will want the duo to cause plenty of damage with the ball.

Team Head to Head

Overall: Matches – 10, Sunrisers Hyderabad won – 5, Mumbai Indians won – 5

Trivia

Bhuvneshwar Kumar has an outstanding record against the Mumbai Indians; in 8 IPL matches – while playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad – he has taken 14 wickets, and has an economy rate of 5.67.

Rohit Sharma will have fond memories of the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad; the venue used to be his home ground when represented the Deccan Chargers, and more recently, he lifted the IPL trophy after winning last season’s final.

Shikhar Dhawan has scored more runs against the Mumbai Indians than against any other one opponent; the left-hander has an aggregate of 536 runs from 16 matches against MI.

What Next

Both teams will be seen in action next on April 14. Mumbai Indians will return home and take on the Delhi Daredevils in the 4pm match. Sunrisers Hyderabad play their first away match of the season when they travel to Kolkata to take on the Kolkata Knight Riders.