Two Hyderabadis at different, if not opposing, ends of the cricketing spectrum held centrestage at a packed-to-the-rafters Chinnaswamy Stadium, which celebrated the return of the Indian Premier League to the southern metropolis on Sunday with gusto.

Mohammed Siraj, the express paceman who is at the top of his white-ball game, especially, bowled an outstanding first spell to rattle Mumbai Indians, before ceding ground to his 20-year-old statemate, the wonderfully talented Tilak Varma. With his team’s innings in tatters on being put in by Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis, the left-hander took it upon himself to play both the anchor’s role as well as that of the enforcer.