The 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is right around the corner. The buzz is increasing day after day as we near the highly-anticipated March 22 date, when the opening game of IPL 2024 between Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) will take place.
Ahead of IPL 2024, five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) brought Hardik Pandya back in a cash-only deal with Gujarat Titans (GT).
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Pandya replaces Rohit Sharma as the new captain of the franchise, ending the 10-year reign of Rohit as MI captain.
MI significantly bolstered their bowling lineup at the IPL 2024 auctions, snapping up Sri Lanka's Dilshan Madushanka and South Africa's Gerald Coetzee for a combined fee of less of INR 10 crore, which seems to be a bargain.
MORE: Hardik Pandya - I wasn't able to walk after World Cup injury
Dilshan Madushanka and Gerald Coetzee doubtful for MI's opening game
On Friday, during the second ODI between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Madushanka left the field due to an issue in his hamstring.
On Sunday morning, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) released an official report on the left-arm quick's injury, ruling him out of the rest of the Bangladesh tour.
"Dilshan Madushanka will not further take part in the ongoing tour as the bowler will return to start rehabilitation work after suffering an injury during the 2nd ODI. Madushanka, who left the field during the second ODI while bowling, has suffered a left hamstring injury, as confirmed by an MRI scan performed on the player," SLC said in the statement.
The injury now means that Madushanka will miss at least the first few games of IPL 2024 as he will be returning to Sri Lanka to begin his rehab.
On the other hand, the participation of headline signing Coetzee for MI's opening game on March 24 against GT is also a big uncertainty.
Coetzee has already landed in India, where the Mumbai Indians medical staff is taking care of him while he heals from a groin injury.
After suffering a pelvic inflammation during the Boxing Day Test against India, he was unable to play in the SA20 or the first few rounds of the domestic T20 competition.
In order to get playing time later in the competition, it appears that he will also not play in the IPL's early stages.
Mumbai Indians' probable bowling lineup against GT
With two pacers who were touted to make it to the MI playing XI out of the picture, the franchise are now left with Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara, Jason Behrendorff, Arjun Tendulkar, and Akash Madhwal as the pace-bowling options.
While Bumrah is yet to join the MI pre-season training camp, the bowler's return to his best form during the recently-concluded Test series against England will give a huge boost to the team. There have been no reported injury relapses or fitness issues with Bumrah.
Behrendorff has been with MI for quite a while now and seems to be a shoo-in for the playing XI, at least until one of Coetzee or Madushanka are fit to feature.
Madhwal had a brilliant breakthrough season for MI in IPL 2023, picking up 14 wickets in eight games, including a fifer against LSG in the playoffs. He will once again be in the thick of the action and will be Bumrah's Indian understudy in the lineup.
Arjun Tendulkar and Nuwan Thushara are the least likely bowlers to feature in XI, especially now that Pandya provides the fourth seam-bowling option to the team.
Talking about the spinners, veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla will be an automatic choice for MI after he single-handedly carried the MI bowling lineup in 2023 in the absence of Bumrah.
Mohammad Nabi, a batting all-rounder who is a more-than-handy off-spinner, might not feature as regularly in the team since he would occupy one of the four overseas slots, but still provides a great second spin-bowling option.
MI expected bowling lineup for opening game against GT:
Frontline seamers: Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff
Spinners: Piyush Chawla, Shreyas Gopal (Impact Sub)
Sixth-bowling option: Hardik Pandya
Seven-bowling options: Tilak Varma, Tim David
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