Mumbai hold the edge

MUMBAI: A 140-run spanking is definitely not the kind of start Vijay Mallya’s Bangalore Royal Challengers would have asked for.

But that’s passe; the bad dream’s over. They have another immediate challenge coming up on Sunday when they take on hosts Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede here. If Kolkata Knight Riders had Brendon McCullum, who hit a breathtaking 158 the other night, Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai have an equally destructive force in Sanath Jayasuriya, and that could be Bangalore skipper Rahul Dravid’s main worry. It’s not yet certain though if Tendulkar, who is recovering from a groin injury, will play.

“I will take a decision just before the match,” Tendulkar said. If he sits out, Harbhajan Singh will lead the side.

But even then, the home side has enough firepower in their ranks to unnerve their Challengers, who are missing two key players — South African pacer Dale Steyn and Aussie left-arm seamer Nathan Bracken. Anil Kumble, too, is unlikely to play.

Their batting line-up doesn’t look very exciting either, with only Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher being the big names besides Dravid.

On paper, Mumbai seem to have the edge. Besides Harbhajan and Jayasuriya, they have the exciting Aussie wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi, retired South African all-rounder Shaun Pollock, Lankan speedster Dilhara Fernando, Robin Uthappa and left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra.