RR vs MI, IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians plays down Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hype, says Ravi Bishnoi no mystery

Mumbai Indians have downplayed the growing hype around Rajasthan Royals’ teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, insisting that their approach will remain grounded despite his impressive start to the season.

Speaking ahead of the clash in Guwahati, MI bowling coach Paras Mhambrey made it clear that Sooryavanshi is far from an unknown quantity. “Firstly, I think Vaibhav is not new. This is his second year, so he is not new,” he said, pointing to the youngster’s familiarity at this level. Mhambrey also acknowledged his performances, describing them as “praiseworthy” and in line with the role he has been assigned by his team.

Despite the attention surrounding the 15-year-old, Mhambrey stressed that the Mumbai Indians will not alter their preparation. “We also know he is a good player, so our preparation will be the same as it is for other players,” he added, underlining that the team will stick to its standard plans rather than crafting anything specific around the hype.

The MI think-tank appears focused on maintaining clarity in approach, choosing not to overcomplicate strategies against a player who has quickly become one of the talking points of IPL 2026.

Mhambrey also addressed questions around Rajasthan Royals spinner Ravi Bishnoi, who has been among the standout performers with the ball. He dismissed the notion of Bishnoi being a mystery factor, highlighting that the leg-spinner has been around long enough for teams to understand his methods.

“I don’t see Ravi as a mystery anymore. People have seen what he can do over the years,” Mhambrey said, adding that he does not believe the spinner is doing anything significantly different this season. He emphasised that fluctuations in performance are part of the game. “Every cricketer goes through phases. Sometimes a game goes well, sometimes it doesn’t,” he noted.

From MI’s perspective, Bishnoi will be treated like “any other bowler”, with plans dictated by match situations rather than preconceived ideas.

Mumbai Indians head into the contest looking to bounce back after a defeat to Delhi Capitals, a game where the absence of captain Hardik Pandya was keenly felt. The all-rounder missed the match due to illness, with Suryakumar Yadav stepping in as stand-in skipper.

With Pandya expected to return, MI will hope to regain balance in both departments as they take on a confident Rajasthan side, where containing Sooryavanshi and the in-form top order could prove decisive.

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