In the second day of the match, defending champions Mumbai Indians will take on Yorkshire in a group B encounter of the Champions League T20 at Cape Town today. Both the teams have lost their opening encounter.

 Mumbai Indians will want get their campaign back on track after suffering a defeat at the hands of Highveld Lions in their tournament opener. Mumbai Indians are the strongest team of the tournament at least on papers and many of their players are tailor-made for this format of the game. Yet they could not start their title defence on expected lines and crashed to a huge eight wicket defeat against Lions.

They would want to make amends to that in today’s match when they take on Yorkshire from England. Now, Yorkshire does not have many renowned faces like their counterparts for the night but then there expertise in T20 cricket can take them the distance. In addition to that, the South Africans conditions will suit them more than Mumbai Indians. Yorkshire who lost their last match against Sydney Sixers will be looking to get some points against their name.

IPL teams have so far had been disappointing and odds are stacked up high against Mumbai in the match. Whether they play to their reputation or crash to a defeat will be quite exciting to watch.

Let us take a look at some of the key players from today’s match:

Mumbai Indians:

Rohit Sharma: Rohit Sharma has been one of  the most successful batsmen for Mumbai Indians. He played a decent knock in the last match and his team would want him to deliver on the expected lines. He has been very good for Mumbai in the past under pressure conditions and will hold the key in the middle for them.

Dwayne Smith: Smith got Mumbai off to a brilliant start in the last match against Lions, but then was not able to convert the start he got. He is a very aggressive batsman and can decimate any bowling unit when in full flow. His team would want him to get them off on a similar note and also to carry bat for the most part of the innings.

Mitchell Johnson: Mitchell Johnson was promoted up the batting order and it did not work out as Mumbai would have wanted. He did get 30 odds runs but then exhausted too many balls. And while bowling he was decent enough and maintained a good economy rate by T20 standards. His team would want him to deliver with the ball more than his batting and he is someone who can create difficulties for batsmen. His steep bounce and swing has been his weapon and his team will like to see him make use of the conditions to the optimum.

Lasith Malinga: He is one of the best T20 bowlers of the world and he bowled brilliantly in the last match. He bowled at an economy rate of less than five runs an over and even took a wicket. He can bowl toe crushing Yorkers, slower bouncers, all with his slinging action which makes him very difficult to hit. He has always been brilliant for Mumbai and his team will want him to get some early breakthroughs and then later rattle the tail.

Yorkshire:

Andrew Bale: The skipper has failed so far in the tournament and if ever he needs to deliver then it is today. Yorkshire who have lost their opening match would require a win to stay afloat and the skipper has to lead from the front. The stylish left handed batsman has played many match winning knocks for his team and will surely have to play one today.

David Miller: The middle order batsman from South Africa is a very experienced campaigner in T20 cricket and is one of the key players in the side. He played a match winning knock against the UVA Next in his first match for Yorkshire. Playing under home conditions will help him a lot and if can pack a punch if he gets going. Mumbai will have to watch out for him.

Ryan Sidebottom: Sidebottom, the England international is the most experienced bowler for Yorkshire and will spearhead their bowling attack. He is in decent touch and will try to use the conditions to the optimum. Sidebottom is likely to open the bowling and would want to make some early inroads.

By Indian Sports News Network