IPL 2024: Brian Lara hypes MI's superlative Suryakumar ahead of Chennai tie at Wankhede

West Indies great Brian Lara cannot stop praising Mumbai Indians star batter Suryakumar Yadav, who returned from an injury layoff and struck a quickfire and match-winning fifty against RCB in their previous match in IPL 2024.

Watching Suryakumar go about his business, Lara called him a genius, adding he had never seen anyone play that well right after recovering from an injury.

Bringing the main character energy to #MIvCSK 🥵#MumbaiMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians | @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/72tmjeVyNc — Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 14, 2024

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With Mumbai Indians set to host Chennai Super Kings at Wankhede on Sunday (April 14) night, all eyeballs will be on Suryakumar.

Meanwhile, after missing the first three matches this season, Suryakumar returned to the playing XI against Delhi Capitals, where he got out on a first-ball duck. In the next game - the home tie against the star-studded RCB, Suryakumar delivered with the bat, slamming 52 off 19 balls, including hitting four sixes and five fours.

ICYMI - Surya lighting up the night SKY with a flurry of SIXES 🔥🔥🔥

Watch the match LIVE on @StarSportsIndia and @JioCinema 💻📱#TATAIPL | #MIvRCB | @surya_14kumar pic.twitter.com/7CiLtcwTyI — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 11, 2024

“What I saw a couple of days ago from Suryakumar Yadav is just genius. I think I've not seen shots like that from a guy who's just coming off an injury, coming off a first-half attack, or at least a zero in the last game. Tremendous,” said Lara, while talking on Star Sports Cricket Live.

However, talking about a key battle between CSK’s Ravindra Jadeja and MI’s SKY, as most fans call him, Lara said it’s one to look out for, with Jadeja trying to keeper an upper hand with his slower ones against Yadav.

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"Yeah, it's a battle, but you know, okay, those are some stats that you pull out. I mean, those are the times when he may have failed, but this guy is in superb form. And I mean, if he wants to succumb to that and say, okay, I'm going to rematch against you later. I've got other guys I can take on. He can do that as well,” Lara noted.

IPL 2024 ready for ‘El Clasico’

Dubbed cricket’s El Clasico for countless reasons, the two most successful IPL teams – MI and CSK will go up against each other at Wankhede on Sunday. With five titles each to their names, MI and CSK are filled with match-winners as this match promises to bring a lot to the table.

As per records, Mumbai leads Chennai 20-16 in head-to-head clashes in IPL, while at the iconic Wankhede, the hosts are ahead with a 7-4 tally.

However, last year, the defending champions CSK beat MI across both legs.