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Rohit Sharma is not present for the five-time champions Mumbai Indians as captain Hardik Pandya won the toss & chose to bowl first against Lucknow Super Giants, who have brought in Akash Deep, in match 16 of IPL 2025 at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday. Both these teams are currently positioned in the lower half of the points table, & a victory for either side would elevate them to join the 4 points club.
Following the toss, Pandya mentioned that Rohit had got a knee injury during practice and is therefore unavailable for Friday's match. In the absence of Rohit, fast-bowling all-rounder Raj Angad Bawa has been given his MI debut. Bawa gained recognition after claiming a five-wicket haul against England and leading India to victory in the 2022 U19 Men's Cricket World Cup final.
He plays for Chandigarh in domestic cricket & is the grandson of Trilochan Singh, who won a gold medal with the Indian hockey team in the 1948 London Olympics. His father, Sukhwinder Bawa, is an important cricket coach in Chandigarh & was responsible for giving Raj his initial cricketing lessons.
“Looks like a fresh wicket. Not sure how it is going to play. Looks a decent track. Dew might come in later. Thought better to chase. I think we in a group have spoken that we don't want to talk about the wickets.”
“We are here to play good cricket. That's the talk we have. Let's not talk about the surfaces. I think adaptation. Sticking to right plans and being smart. Lot of runs are being scored. He (Jasprit Bumrah) should be back soon,” stated Hardik Pandya.