IPL 2023: Rohit Sharma lavishes praises on Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera; compares them with Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya

As Mumbai Indians lock horns with Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator clash of IPL 2023, Rohit Sharma looked back at how the youngsters fared for India and lavished massive praises for MI's young guns in the middle order, Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera. 

Rohit even went on to say that Tilak's and Nehal's success story in the future would be similar to that of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya - all of whom started their careers with Mumbai Indians and went on to carve grand spaces for themselves in Indian cricket circuit. Both Tilak and Nehal also made their IPL debuts for Mumbai and have been sensational for the franchise so far in the league.

Rohit also went on to mention that two years later, the current MI setup would again attain a legendary status, after going through a lean patch in the past couple of seasons.

"The story of Tilak Varma & Nehal Wadhera will be similar to that of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya. After two years, people will say this is a superstar team - these two guys are going to play a big role for Mumbai and India in the future," said Rohit. 

Notably, Tilak made his IPL debut for MI in 2022 and finished the season with impressive statistics of 397 runs scored in 14 matches at a strike rate of 131.02 and an average of 36.09. In the ongoing season, Tilak has been in and out of the team after being shadowed by frequent injuries and has thus played only nine matches in the league stage. In those matches, Tilak amassed a total of 274 runs at an average of 45.66 and a stupendous strike rate of 158.38.

Nehal, on the other hand, made his IPL debut in the ongoing season and has so far scored 214 runs in 12 matches, at an average of 30.57 and a strike rate of 141.72. He also scored two half-centuries and registered his best score of 64 which came in MI's high-voltage clash against CSK..

MI register powerful first innings total in Eliminator against LSG

Playing in the Eliminator against Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai Indians finished their first innings on a total of 182/4. MI won the toss and elected to bat first but had an ordinary start as they lost both their openers within the powerplay. While Rohit Sharma scored 11 runs of 10 balls, Ishan Kishan could only manage 15 runs in 12 balls.

However, Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav and Nehal Wadhera chipped in with valuable knocks to steer MI to a competitive total. Green hit six fours and one maximum to score 41 runs off 23 deliveries, whereas Yadav scored 33 off 20 balls, courtesy of two fours and equinumerous sixes. Wadhera smashed two fours and as many sixes down the order to slam a quickfire 23 in just 12 balls.

For LSG, Naveen-ul-Haq and Yash Thakur starred with the ball, claiming four and three wickets each.