🏏IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals, 69th Match, Mumbai🏏 - Page 5

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Here's the pitch report - First day game at Mumbai this season. Temperature is 33 degrees celsius, but it feels like 43 says Ian Bishop. The bigger square boundary is 67 metres, 61 shorter side, 75 metres down the ground. Sunil Gavaskar says the humidity is what's going to get the sweat out of you. Pitch is bereft of grass. Wristspinners will get help. There will be a lot of runs as it's a small ground with a quick outfield. Winning captain won't look at the pitch, he'll look up and opt and bat first to keep his bowlers fresh.

Welcome to the final double-header Sunday of this IPL. Rajasthan Royals, after a topsy-turvy campaign, still have their fate in their own hands. They thumped Lucknow Super Giants in their previous game to keep their equation simple: win and they seal the fourth spot in the playoffs; lose and they are out of the running.

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians will have pride but not much else to play for. They have had a wretched time this IPL, winning four and losing nine, sitting near the bottom of the points table. A big defeat today could consign them to the wooden spoon. But with Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and many others in the side keen to prove a point, we might be gearing up for a thriller. I am Abhijato, and will be joined by Ekanth to take you through this crucial encounter.

Against all logic, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi has A) dominated bowlers like few others have in the history of the tournament, and B) is lurking near the top of the Orange Cap leaderboard. Of course, he would swap in all his runs for the guarantee that RR make it into the playoffs. But we are going to have Sooryavanshi vs Bumrah 2.0 today. And if Sooryavanshi triumphs once more, he might just be the one to help RR sneak into the playoffs - and keep their hunt for the title alive, as well as our eyes glued to the screen, watching Sooryavanshi bat some more.

Ahead of the match, Sruthi also took a look at what is ailing Jasprit Bumrah, who has taken just four wickets in 13 matches, and is ailing from an average of 102.50, his worst ever in an IPL season. "It was already known that Bumrah entered the season carrying a niggle, which affected his pace in the first half of the tournament," she says. "His workload was managed as he built up his speeds. He seemed to be bowling at full tilt in the last few games, yet the wickets have not followed. It is noteworthy that he has played all games this season despite his workload management."

Captains out in the middle now. Hardik Pandya with the coin in hand. Parag out there too, for RR, after resting to nurse a hamstring issue. Heads is the call, but tails it is. MI win the toss and will bowl first.

MI won the toss and will bowl first.

Teams - Bumrah rested.

MI won the toss and opted to bowl first! Great.

RR - Burger, Jadeja and Parag IN