At the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, a battle between the table toppers Chennai and the team at the floor of the table Mumbai Indians is scheduled to start at 20:00 Hours tonight (IST). Chennai Super Kings have functioned like a well-oiled machinery, though it makes its share of mistakes, there is always somebody to help them cross the line. Their numbers- 5 wins form 6 games, suggest just that, Chennai Super Kings are in form and well on their way to yet another place in the Playoffs. Mumbai Indians on the other hand have a very contrasting journey. MI have not lost matches which they were supposed to lose but have somehow found out peculiar ways to lose the game from a very demanding position.
However, if there is one team which can bounce back rather dramatically to qualify from here it has to be Mumbai Indians. Given the setup of the team and the form of individual players, MI have it in them to win matches, it is just that they haven’t been able to perform as a unit which is so important in a tournament like this. MI now have to bounce back from an embarrassing batting display against the Sunrisers Hyderabad where they were bundled out for just 87 runs to try and go all the way in the ongoing season.
CSK have now won 3 in a row and would not mind to strengthen their position at the top of the table, while for the MI it is the same opposition with which it all started, MI have to press the reset button now and try and climb up the ladder. A win against the No. 1 side can boost the confidence of thee team in ways untold. Perhaps that is all MI need at this time, faith in their own abilities.
Ambati Rayudu is having a season to remember this year. He is among the orange cap contenders at this stage and has been striking the ball really well. CSK would hope to see him continue the same way for the team. Shane Watson’s bat has now kept quiet for a while after his century against the Rajasthan Royals. Watson show at the top of order can make that CSK lineup even more deadly. Suresh Raina too, has had a decent season, with plenty of starts not being converted into a big score, more contribution from Raina will make CSK a healthier batting unit. MS Dhoni has been phenomenal this IPL and that means the game is not over until MS is at the crease.
Mumbai on the other hand have enjoyed the success of Suryakumar Yadav. Suryakumar has been opening the innings along with Evin Lewis and has adapted to the new role brilliantly. However, Mumbai will hope for more contributions from Lewis and Ishan Kishan, both of whom are reputed batsmen and comprise MI’s top 3. Kieron Pollard hasn’t produced an innings of significant importance and his selection might be viewed upon with critical eyes.
For all the talk of Rohit Sharma’s batting position, one should see that Rohit’s 94 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore this season came only when he got the opportunity to bat in the first over itself, facing the third ball of the first over after 2 wickets fell in the first couple of balls. That basically implies that Rohit should come in as early as possible which is in the best interest of the team.
The leggie Mayank Markande rose to fame when he played against the Chennai Super Kings in the first game of the competition. Eyes will once again be on the young bowler as his reputation has grown over the course of IPL and he is MI’s leading wicket taker in the season. Jasprit Bumrah is another key bowler for a team desperate to win like MI is. As far as Chennai is concerned, spinners would be the key on a comparatively bigger ground and focus will be on Shardul Thakur and Deepak Chahar who have done a great job for the team so far. The great rivalry of IPL resumes tonight at Pune. Broadcast starts at 20:00 Hours (IST).
