Suryakumar Yadav’s (SKY) explosive hundred against the Sunrisers Hyderabad lifted the Mumbai Indians to only their fourth win out of twelve games. It was a great knock that put the dynamic batsman a cut above the rest in a relatively tough batting wicket. The century was great to see, however, the question is: Is it enough? Leaving aside a mathematical miracle, the team that calls the Wankhede stadium its home is virtually out.
However, there are some positive takeaways for Mumbai, and more importantly for India.
Suryakumar Yadav’s Standout Performance
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It was a pitch where most players on both teams struggled to settle down and get going. Whilst some of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s top order did get decent starts, most notably the explosive Travis Head, no one was able to come to terms with the pitch. Except SKY. The 51-ball knock striking at 200 gives full justification for the trust the Indian national team selectors have placed in the player.
And no doubt Suryakumar’s Yadav will be a key cog in India’s fight for the World T20 title next month. The more concerning aspect of the result was how other Mumbai Indian players performed in the game. This takes us to the subject of Rohit Sharma.
Rohit Sharma Fails Again for Mumbai Indians
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It was another game and another failure for the Team India skipper, The former skipper of the Mumbai Indians only managed four. Before getting out, in an almost predictable fashion: playing across the line and edging the delivery. This is the fifth time the opener has scored less than 20 in the last six innings.
This is concerning for not only the Mumbai Indians but also for India. Having an out-of-form opener and captain can hurt the team’s overall performance. Especially considering that Team India is one of the top teams going into the World T20. So it is now up to Rohit Sharma to put in some great performances to life Mumbai Indians and to increase his confidence.
What’s Next for the Mumbai Indians?
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As noted there is still a slim, very slim chance that Mumbai Indians make it into the IPL 2024 playoffs. However, whatever happens on the field, the real question is what will the team from Mumbai do next season? This string of bad and mixed performances will not do for one of the biggest franchises in the league. For a start, dealing with the off-field issues will be a start.
Further, questions need to be asked of the leadership of the new skipper of Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya. This is a controversial subject but it is something the Mumbai Indians’ leadership cannot overlook. In addition to weak batting performances, Pandya, who was brought back from the Gujarat Titans, no doubt done so strategically, has not been himself.
There is a problem of leadership that needs to be looked at. Having top-class players in a single team is not enough to win games. Suryakumar Yadav’s heroics aside what the Mumbai Indians need going forward is a clear strategy that will get the most out of the players consistently.
About the Author
Damian Thar writes on a range of topics. In addition to his professional work, he writes essays on subjects like philosophy, history, and culture. He also writes and edits books; in his free time, he makes videos for social commentary. You can find his work here.
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