Former New Zealand and Mumbai Indians (MI) pace bowler Mitchell McClenaghan believes the franchise’s top order could change SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), with Suryakumar Yadav potentially batting at No. 5. The two teams will clash in Game 41 of IPL 2026 on Wednesday, April 29, at the Wankhede Stadium as well.
Speaking during the Star Sports segment ‘Game Plan,’ 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.”
“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,” he further added.
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“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 again shared.
In the same discussion, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara also said that if Suryakumar Yadav works on his footwork, it will help him a lot. Pujara also added that, at times, Suryakumar has tried to play too many shots early on, and he should allow himself a little more time before playing aggressively.
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,” he added.
“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 concluded.
