It seems like a straightforward task for the in-form Mumbai, but they will be cautiously wary of Madhya Pradesh’s potential to play the role of disruptor in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy final in Bengaluru on Sunday. Mumbai’s status as favorites stems primarily from their formidable batting line-up, which excels at both setting and chasing challenging targets with remarkable ease. With heavyweights like skipper Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Prithvi Shaw in their ranks, it is a rejuvenated Ajinkya Rahane who has been leading their batting charge. Rahane is the leading run-scorer in this edition of the tournament, amassing 432 runs in eight matches at an impressive strike rate of 170, including five half-centuries.
While Mumbai’s batting is firmly in control, their inconsistent frontline bowlers will need to step up against Madhya Pradesh. In the semifinal, despite restricting Baroda to a modest 158 for seven, Mohit Avasthi, Shardul Thakur, and Shivam Dube were expensive. It was the spinners – Tanush Kotian, Suryansh Shedge, and Atharva Ankolekar – who kept the opposition in check. Madhya Pradesh, led by skipper Rajat Patidar, will be eager to exploit this vulnerability, posing a potential challenge for Mumbai as they aim to clinch their second title after their 2022 triumph.
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