TATA IPL 2024: Mumbai Seeks Pride, LSG Hopes Alive in Season's last match at Wankhede
Mumbai Indians, now out of the running for the playoffs, will aim to salvage pride as they face off against Lucknow Super Giants in their final encounter of the season at Wankhede Stadium in Match 67 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Mumbai's hopes were dashed a week ago, while Lucknow's chances remain faint; they could potentially gather 14 points with a victory on Friday, provided several outcomes align in their favor.
Currently occupying the seventh position with 12 points, the visitors have a chance to match Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings, and Delhi Capitals on 14 points if they secure a victory against MI on Friday. However, their net run rate stands at -0.787, significantly lower than their competitors. Lucknow Super Giants not only need a resounding win against MI but also rely on substantial defeats for CSK and SRH in their respective matches to keep their hopes alive.
Mumbai has had a horrendous season and is currently at the bottom of the points table with eight points. Except for some patchy performances by Tilak Varma, Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav, rest of the batters failed to impress. On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah was outstanding as usual but has constantly struggled for support. He has so far claimed 20 wickets in 13 matches and is second in the race for the Purple Cap. Gerald Coetzee initially did well but went off the boil midway through the season.
Lucknow was in contention until a couple of weeks ago, but a series of four defeats in their last five matches significantly undermined their prospects. Skipper KL Rahul has been consistent with the bat, except for the recent few matches where Lucknow struggled. He leads the team's scoring charts with 465 runs in 13 matches, closely followed by Nicholas Pooran, who has amassed 424 runs thus far.
In the bowling department, Lucknow Super Giants found a silver lining in the emergence of pace sensation Mayank Yadav, who delivered the season's fastest ball before succumbing to injury. Undoubtedly, he stands out as the most significant discovery for LSG in IPL 2024, a foundation upon which they hope to build in the upcoming season. Both teams are keen on affording young talents another chance in their squads, aiming for them to leave a lasting impression before the mega auction next year.
