Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma prove Dale Steyn wrong with slowest opening stand

Dale Steyn’s early IPL 2025 prediction of the MI vs SRH clash breaking the 300-run barrier felt flat at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday. On a rather tricky wicket, Abhishek Sharma and Travis Head put on a rather sedate opening stand. It pales in comparison to their last game, where the SRH openers smashed a 171-run stand in just 12 overs.

Abhishek, Head drop anchor in MI vs SRH

Sunrisers Hyderabad entered the Wankhede Stadium having made a mockery of a 245-run chase in their last game. In a stadium with short boundaries and batting-friendly conditions, the MI vs SRH was expected to be another run-scoring affair. So much so, that former SRH pacer Dale Steyn expected the 2024 finalists to break the 300-run barrier.

However, Abhishek and Travis were forced to drop anchor on a not-so-typical wicket in Mumbai. With the ball gripping and holding up, the SRH openers were conservative, riding their luck in the opening partnership. While they smashed 83-0 in their last game in the first 6 overs, the number dropped to a mere 46-0 in Mumbai on Thursday.

The visitors only got to their 50 in the seventh over of the innings. The duo failed to hit a six, a feat unfathomable for the duo given their recent pyrotechnics. Head, in fact was seen practicing shots down the ground before the game, suggesting him taking an anchor role in the MI vs SRH clash.

More to follow…