Ahead of the high-stakes Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians clash at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur, Mumbai Indians stars Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav were spotted engaging in a fun pre-match ritual to resolve the toss dilemma.
In a light-hearted moment before the toss, Suryakumar Yadav held out two fingers and asked Hardik to pick one, ultimately helping the MI skipper decide whether to bat or bowl first. The playful exchange unfolded even as Mumbai Indians’ team management remained unsure about their approach in this crucial final league-stage encounter.
https://twitter.com/45kennyat7PM/status/1926995355670806828
Despite the decision-making gesture, Hardik Pandya lost the toss, and Punjab Kings captain Shreyas Iyer elected to bowl first. Fortunately for MI, the outcome aligned with their likely strategy, as they ended up batting first — a call that Suryakumar had subtly indicated.
Speaking at the toss, Hardik said:
“It’s a good toss to lose; we were not sure what to do. We didn’t mind either batting or bowling. We will put some runs and defend it. For us to be in this situation, a lot of results had to go our way. Five days back, we were not here, but now we are. The last 8–9 games have been like knockouts for us.”
What’s at stake:
-
Both Punjab Kings (2nd) and Mumbai Indians (3rd) have already qualified for the playoffs.
-
A win today secures a top-two finish, offering an extra lifeline in the playoffs.
Mumbai Indians enter the contest fresh off a 59-run win over Delhi Capitals, while Punjab Kings will look to bounce back after conceding a 6-wicket loss to Delhi, despite posting 206 runs.
