IPL 2018: Why Bhuvneshwar Kumar is not playing the SRH-MI clash

Sunrisers Hyderabad's bowling spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been ruled out of the team's clash against the Mumbai Indians at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal. The team replaced the fast bowler with Sandeep Sharma, the Patiala-born pacer, who previously played for the Kings XI Punjab.

Kane Williamson, SRH's captain, spoke about Bhuvneshwar's absence at the toss:

"We are going to have a bowl. It is a good surface for bowling, so we need to bowl well first up. Unfortunately, Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar) misses out, as he has a sore back, so Sandeep Sharma comes in making his debut for the franchise, so that's exciting for him".

Despite a sore back, Bhuvneshwar was seen at the pre-match net practice, speaking to head coach Tom Moody as the rest of the players went about their business.

Bhuvneshwar, who has been part of the Sunrisers since 2014, was the Purple Cap holder for back-to-back seasons in 2016 and 2017, picking up 23 wickets and 26 wickets in the two editions respectively.

For the Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya was also one of the absentees and was replaced in the line-up by left-arm pacer Pradeep Sangwan. Pandya had injured his ankle during the season opener against the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede, but came back to bowl, picking up three wickets in the process, before limping off the ground yet again.

The game will mark the franchise debut of Sandeep Sharma, who has, till date, picked up 71 wickets from 57 games.

These are the lineups for the two teams for the game:

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma(c), Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan(WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Ben Cutting, Mayank Markande, Pradeep Sangwan, Mustafizur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah

Sunrisers Hyderabad: Shikhar Dhawan, Wriddhiman Saha(WK), Kane Williamson(c), Manish Pandey, Deepak Hooda, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Rashid Khan, Billy Stanlake, Siddarth Kaul, Sandeep Sharma