Mumbai take on Delhi on Saturday in the Indian Premier League.
There cannot be a better venue for Mumbai Indians to open their account after two back-to-back heart-stopping last over losses than the Wankhede when they take on winless Delhi Daredevils on Saturday at 4pm.
Mumbai Indians hold the edge over Delhi Daredevils, with not much separating the two – 11 wins and 9 losses in head-to-head over the last decade. In their fortress, the Wankhede, MI have dominated DD with five wins and only one loss in six matches.
It is crucial for MI, as much for DD, to open their account at their earliest as initial losses will only make their qualification for the Play-offs that much more difficult with every passing match.
Rohit Sharma’s MI ought to have won their first two matches, but for some crazy batting, first by CSK’s Dwayne Bravo in the tournament opener and secondly for not putting up enough runs on the board in Thursday’s nail-biter in Hyderabad.
Putting up runs, but not defending them has been MI’s bane in the first two matches. They are known to begin poorly over the years but pick up gas and even go on to win the tournament, as they have done in the past. But, they cannot rest on how fair history has been to them as each of the other teams are equally good to win titles.
While Mumbai have the home advantage, one can only pity Daredevils. They will feel the home atmosphere of the Ferozeshah Kotla only from their sixth match (April 23 against Kings XI Punjab) as they are on the road for their first five matches.
They are already feeling the heat, apart from the harsh Indian summer, bludgeoned by KL Rahul and KXIP in their first match in only the first six overs, and then done in by rain in Jaipur on Wednesday night.
The Daredevils cannot be caught short for personnel, as they have some of the finest batsmen this format demands. New Zealander Colin Munro and Australian Glen Maxwell are match-winners in their own ways while the experienced Gautam Gambhir, local boy Shreyas Iyer and the bit-hitting but inconsistent Rishabh Pant can take the opposition attack to the cleaners if they get going. But, it is their bowling that has struggled to take wickets.
But, the manner in which Rahul went berserk the other day, there’s little one can do to stop the carnage.
On the other hand, Mumbai bowlers have managed to take wickets. ‘Purple Cap’ Mayank Markande – 7 wickets at a cheap 5.75 runs per over in only his maiden IPL – the Punjab leg-spinner will continue to fox the rival batsmen with his variations. The beauty about the 20-year-old is that he rarely wavers and mixes his variations that catches the batsmen in two minds and has scalped such big wickets as MS Dhoni, Shikhar Dhawan, Shakib Al Hasan and Manish Pandey, all no less big hitters in the format.
One thing is for certain on Saturday. MI or DD will have their first points on the board. And, Mumbai are the favourites to do that.
Milne replaces Cummins
The injury-hit Mumbai Indians have received a reinforcement in the form of New Zealand pacer Adam Milne, who has replaced Australian Pat Cummins for the current IPL. Milne, who turned 26 on Friday and a right-arm fast bowler, has appeared in five IPL matches, all for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the previous two seasons. Milne, who arrived in Mumbai on Thursday, took part in Friday’s optional training under lights.
Hardik Pandya, injured in the tournament opener, did not travel to Hyderabad for the second match. He sprained his ankle but is not a major injury, according to Kiran More, their support staff, and should be available to play on Saturday subject to passing fitness test.
Delhi are down with two losses but certainly not out. These are early days in the tournament. Giving local boy, India U-19 star Prithvi Shaw his maiden IPL cap will not be a bad idea to set the ball rolling on his home turf.
Mayank Markande v/s Colin Munro
The leg-spinner has been a sensation in only his first two IPL matches, picking up wickets and also containing runs. He has scalped some of the biggest names in business. Rival New Zealander Colin Munro will be on his list. The left-hander has been in top-form of late.
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