Is Jasprit Bumrah playing today’s MI vs LSG IPL 2024 match?
In what is their last game of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL), the Mumbai Indians (MI) made quite a few changes. Up against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), one of the major changes Mumbai made was replacing Jasprit Bumrah with Arjun Tendulkar.
Bumrah, who was in contention for the Purple Cap this season, was rested for the LSG game and surprisingly was not even named as an impact substitute. The Indian speedster is currently the second-highest wicket-taker this IPL season with 20 scalps, including one five-wicket haul, from 13 games.
While the reason for the pace spearhead missing the game is unknown, he has likely been rested keeping the workload in mind, with the T20 World Cup 2024 fast approaching.
MI opt to bowl, make three changes for their last game of IPL 2024
Alongside Bumrah, skipper Hardik Pandya mentioned that middle-order batters Tilak Varma and Tim David were also missing from MI’s playing XI. Dewald Brevis made his way into the side alongside Romario Shepherd and Tendulkar.
Though David is one of the five players listed as impact substitutes, Rohit Sharma is most likely to be brought on in the second innings, when MI chase.
Upon winning the toss, the five-time champions put their opposition to bat first, as Pandya believed that chasing was better at the venue, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Here’s what Hardik Pandya said at the toss:
“We're going to bowl. Chasing is better in Wankhede. It comes on nicer in the evening. It's always about playing for the badge, playing for pride - all those words are important in the group. We know where we stand. But ending the season playing good cricket will always be appreciated. It gives us more freedom maybe to go out there and express ourselves.”
While Mumbai have already been knocked out of the playoff race and are placed 10th in the points table, it is a do-or-die encounter for LSG, who are still in contention to make it to the top four. However, they also need other results to go their way.