Former New Zealand and Mumbai Indians (MI) seamer Mitchell McClenaghan believes the franchise’s top order could undergo a reshuffle against SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), with Suryakumar Yadav potentially dropping to No. 5. The two sides will clash in Game 41 of IPL 2026 on Wednesday, April 29 at the Wankhede Stadium.
Speaking during the Star Sports segment ‘Game Plan,’ the 39-year-old said MI will need to put up a strong batting performance against SRH and suggested that Will Jacks could slot into the top four, which might push Suryakumar down the order. He said:
“They need to score runs against SRH. That’s what it is. It’s going to be a batting shootout, and they need to make sure they have enough batting. So Will Jacks adds into that. It’s just how do you fix the order? Does Will Jacks go up to the top? And then you might look at a different top four and have the ability to maybe slide Suryakumar down to five.”
He further noted that Danish Malewar did not utilise his opportunity in the absence of Rohit Sharma, managing just two runs in as many games. McClenaghan stated that if Rohit returns to the side, having missed the last three games due to a hamstring injury, it would solidify the top order.
MI could then open with him alongside Quinton de Kock or Ryan Rickelton, followed by Will Jacks and Naman Dhir, while players like Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav handle the finishing duties. He said:
“I think the big dip in that has been that they’ve lost Rohit Sharma, and Danish has come in and, unfortunately for the young fella, it hasn’t worked out for him. But if Rohit Sharma is available again, then that solidifies your top order. So you’ve got the ability to either go with Quinton or Rickleton at the top with Rohit Sharma, and then Will Jacks comes into that fixture as well. So that gives you a very aggressive top three.
“And then that’s where I’d consider maybe even playing Naman Dhir at four, just to be able to give yourself the ability to take on that powerplay when the conditions are best for you to score some runs, and then you set yourself up for your experienced players like Sherfane Rutherford, Suryakumar Yadav, and Hardik Pandya to be able to finish the innings,” he added.
MI have not endured the best of seasons so far, sitting ninth with two wins from seven games.
“If he works a little more on his footwork, it will definitely help” – Cheteshwar Pujara’s big remark on MI’s star batter
In the same discussion, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara stated that if Suryakumar Yadav works a bit on his footwork, it will help the right-hander. Pujara also added that, at times, Suryakumar has tried to play too many shots early on and should allow himself a little more time before accelerating. He said:
“I can’t pinpoint one thing, but I remember his (Suryakumar Yadav) dismissals against Rabada where there was enough gap between bat and pad. I think if he works a little more on his footwork, it will definitely help him. But it’s just about having that positive mindset because he is a player who knows how to play in the T20 format. It’s just about having one big knock.
“Sometimes he is also trying to play too many shots early on. That’s why he has gotten out in a couple of games where he was just looking to strike the ball in the first three or four deliveries. If he allows himself a little more time, because he is another player who, after 10-15 deliveries, can always bring that strike rate up,” he added.
Across seven innings, Suryakumar has scored 157 runs at an average of 22.42 and a strike rate of 142.72, including one fifty.
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Edited by Dev Sharma
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