SRH vs MI First Innings: In a rollercoaster first innings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) clawed their way to 143/8 against Mumbai Indians (MI) in Match 41 of IPL 2025, thanks to a heroic 71-run knock by Heinrich Klaasen. The match, played under emotional circumstances as both teams wore black armbands to honour victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, saw SRH collapse early before staging a gritty recovery.
Toss and Team Changes
Mumbai Indians’ skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bowl first on a dry, two-paced surface. MI made one change, bringing in Vignesh Puthur for Ashwani Kumar, while SRH replaced Mohammed Shami with Jaydev Unadkat. The decision to field first paid immediate dividends as MI’s pace attack dismantled SRH’s top order within the Powerplay.
Early Carnage: SRH Reduced to 13/4
Trent Boult (4/26) and Deepak Chahar (2/12) unleashed havoc in the opening overs. Boult struck on his second ball, trapping Travis Head (0 off 4) with a wide outswinger that the left-hander skied to deep point. The dismissal set the tone for a dramatic collapse.
Ishan Kishan, playing against his former franchise, walked controversially in the third over after appearing to edge a Chahar delivery. Replays later confirmed no contact, leaving SRH at 9/2. The chaos continued as Abhishek Sharma (8 off 8) mistimed a flick off Boult, and Nitish Kumar Reddy (2 off 6) chipped a catch to mid-on, reducing SRH to 13/4 inside five overs.
Klaasen’s Counterattack and Record Partnership
With SRH reeling at 24/4 after the Powerplay, Heinrich Klaasen anchored the innings with a masterclass in crisis batting. Initially cautious, the South African wicketkeeper-batter shifted gears after the 10th over, targeting MI’s spinners and pacers with calculated aggression. He reached his half-century in 34 balls, lacing 9 fours and 2 sixes, including a reverse-scoop off Jasprit Bumrah that sailed over third man.
Klaasen found an unlikely ally in Impact Substitute Abhinav Manohar, who entered at No. 7. The duo stitched a record 99-run partnership for the sixth wicket—SRH’s highest for that wicket in IPL history—surpassing the previous mark of 58. Manohar, initially struggling against Bumrah’s yorkers, grew in confidence, smashing 43 off 37 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes. His six off a Boult slower ball in the 19th over epitomized his late flourish.
Bumrah’s Milestone and MI’s Death Bowling
Jasprit Bumrah, despite leaking 39 runs, claimed his 300th T20 wicket by dismissing Klaasen in the 19th over. The seamer’s low full toss was lofted straight to Tilak Varma at deep square leg, ending Klaasen’s 44-ball vigil. Boult then returned to clean up the tail, uprooting Pat Cummins’ middle stump and forcing Manohar into a hit-wicket dismissal—a bizarre end to the batter’s valiant effort.
MI’s bowling unit, led by Boult’s four-wicket haul, showcased discipline in the death overs. Bumrah’s economy of 9.75 contrasted with his milestone, while Hardik Pandya (1/31) and Chahar tightened the screws early.
Post-Innings Analysis
Klaasen’s 71 and Manohar’s 43 salvaged respectability for SRH, but the total of 143/8 felt subpar on a ground where 286 was chased last season. Speaking at the innings break, Manohar admitted, “The pitch wasn’t as flat as it looked. Klaasen told me to play it like an ODI till the 15th over, and we accelerated from there”.
For MI, the target seemed manageable, given their recent batting form. However, SRH’s bowlers, including Cummins and Harshal Patel, would back themselves to defend the total on a slowing track.
Key Stats and Highlights
- Trent Boult: 4/26 (4 overs), including the wickets of Head, Abhishek, Manohar, and Cummins.
- Heinrich Klaasen: 71 off 44 balls (9×4, 2×6), his first fifty of IPL 2025.
- Partnership: 99 runs between Klaasen and Manohar – SRH’s highest for the 6th wicket.
- Jasprit Bumrah: Became the second-fastest bowler to 300 T20 wickets (237 innings).
Conclusion
SRH’s innings mirrored their turbulent season – early chaos followed by middle-order resilience. While Klaasen’s heroics offered hope, MI’s clinical bowling and depth make them favorites to chase down the target. As the teams prepare for the second innings, the question remains: Can SRH’s bowlers script a turnaround, or will MI extend their winning streak?
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