Get ready for an exciting showdown on Monday (April 1) when Mumbai Indians (MI) face Rajasthan Royals (RR) in IPL 2024 Match 14. It’s MI’s first home game at their fortress, Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.
The two teams are on different paths so far. While MI have lost their first two matches, they’ve been putting up a strong fight. However, they couldn’t finish games off victoriously. Captain Hardik Pandya’s choices are under scrutiny, and Suryakumar Yadav’s absence hits MI hard. In contrast, RR enter with wind in their sails after positive results.
The Royals seem triumphant early on, claiming clear wins in their initial clashes. However, an away contest awaits them now. How they adjust to Wankhede’s batting-friendly surface remains intriguing. Boasting a reputation for being a batting paradise, the pitch poses a new challenge for them.
As both sides prepare for what could be an epic battle, let’s look at three key milestones that may be attained in the MI vs. RR game.
#1. Yuzvendra Chahal Aims to Become RR’s Fourth-Highest Wicket-Taker
Yuzvendra Chahal kicked off IPL 2024 brilliantly. He took three wickets, averaging less than 15 runs per wicket. For Rajasthan Royals, this brought his total wickets to 51. His strike rate is an amazing 14.92. Chahal dismissed batters quickly for RR.
The coming match lets Chahal rise higher for his team. If he claims three more wickets, he’ll be the fourth top wicket-taker for RR. The crafty leg-spinner may climb the franchise’s all-time bowling charts.
Currently, James Faulkner is ahead of Chahal on the list. The Australian all-rounder got 53 wickets in 48 games from 2013 to 2015.
#2. Jasprit Bumrah Nears Landmark as Second Indian Pacer to Reach 150 IPL Wickets
Jasprit Bumrah is extremely important to MI’s bowling assault. Without a doubt, his breadth of expertise and renowned talents will be critical in moving MI’s IPL 2024 campaign ahead.
From his IPL debut in 2013 with MI, Bumrah has claimed 148 wickets. His economy rate stands at an impressive 7.37. Just two wickets separate him from becoming the second Indian pace bowler to reach 150 IPL wickets.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (170) remains the sole Indian fast bowler with more IPL wickets than Bumrah.
Furthermore, if the MI fast bowler achieves the milestone tonight, he would be the fastest Indian pacer to reach 150 IPL wickets. Bhuvneshwar required 138 games to complete the milestone, whilst Bumrah has only played 122 games in the league.
#3. Rohit Sharma could become the highest run-getter vs RR
Former MI captain Rohit Sharma has a golden opportunity to become the leading run-scorer against the Rajasthan Royals on Monday. So far, Rohit has a solid record against the inaugural winners, scoring 618 runs in 28 innings.
Rohit is presently sixth on the scoreboard, but if he gets at least 62 runs at home, he might break Shikhar Dhawan’s record of 679 runs.
Also, the MI opener, who is known for hitting fours and sixes, would most likely become the first Indian player to surpass 1,500 boundaries (fours and sixes) in the game’s shortest format.
Rohit Sharma has smashed 11,225 T20 runs, including 1,008 fours and 491 sixes, and is only one boundary away from achieving a historic feat. Previously, only five hitters had hit more than 1,500 boundaries in T20 cricket history.
