Mumbai Indians are the late bloomers of the IPL. Like a cold engine that takes time to be kick-started, their campaign too has finally hit top gear. And, more importantly, at the right time.
After winning only one game in their first six matches, the Rohit Sharma-led side has staged a comeback to win their next five games on the trot, including the one against Chennai Super Kings on Friday. Mumbai subjected CSK to their first defeat at home since 2013, but not without drama.
With three games to go, and two of them at home, Mumbai have to capitalise on their form and aim for a top-two finish ahead of the play-offs. If that happens, MI will play their qualifier game too at the Wankhede Stadium, backed by thunderous support.
The Mumbai chase
Ambati Rayudu’s fine run this season continued while new kid on the Hardik Pandya etched a name for himself. Pandya, who had earlier taken three catches while fielding, did not display any nerves as belted Pawan Negi for three sixes in the penultimate over.
This is a quality that is most sought after in the IPL. As the game progressed, the pitch slowed down. Pandya is no stranger to such conditions. He plies his trade for Baroda in a similar environment.
Rayudu is a natural top-order bat, but he has not been allotted that role with his T20 franchise. But he can expect to be pushec up the ladder if he keeps up his performance.
The opening act of Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons has been vital in Mumbai’s fortunes. But Simmons will have only himself to blame for getting out attempting a big one just after the fall of a wicket. The West Indies player will need to display better temperament next time.
What shoud have been an easy chase turned out to be hugely dramatic, with some dropped catches to add to the nail-biting finish.
Pinning Chennai down
It was a good track to bat on first, and the toss did not go Mumbai’s way. But it was only the toss that didn’t. MI’s bowling kept the marauding CSK batting line-up at bay.
Bounce was on offer first up, which worked to Mumbai’s strength. Marchant de Lange, part of the Mumbai stable since last season, finally got his first break this year in place of Lasith Malinga. The Sri Lankan’s absence was due to the political tension between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, which has forced players from the island nation to stay away from Chennai.
South African De Lange stands at a towering 6 ft 7 in, and releases the ball from close to seven feet. With his raw pace and bounce, the pacer can prove to be a menace to the opposition. And De Lange has made a strong case for his selection in the future games.
De Lange’s relative invisibility through the season could also work for Mumbai. It won’t be an easy task for opposition teams to figure him out as the business end of the tournament approaches.
An option worth trying
On surfaces which seem to offer even a tinge of assistance to the quicker bowlers, the Mumbai side could experiment with the pace trio of Malinga, De Lange and Mitchell McClenaghan. The trio will complement one another with their distinct styles – Malinga with his slinging yorkers, McClenaghan with angled left-arm pace and De Lange’s short deliveries aimed at the rib cage of batsmen.
This would, however, pose a selection conundrum for the team management. With only four foreigners allowed in the playing eleven, the axe will have to fall on either Lendl Simmons or Kieron Pollard.
The other bowlers
The Mumbai Indians bowling called the shots through most of the CSK innings. They kept taking frequent wickets after the initial blast from Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith.
But R Vinay Kumar can’t afford to err in line and length. He does not have express pace and needs to rely on bowling in the right spots. Against the Super Kings, he was distinctly out of sorts, ending as the most expensive bowler. It was more Brendon McCullum’s placement that got him out rather than Kumar’s bowling.
Jagadeesha Suchith and Harbhajan Singh seem to have combined well. The duo are more effective against left-handers, who need to rely on footwork to deal with their spin. The left-armer Suchith’s ploy to bowl around the wicket and cramp the left-handers for space trapped Suresh Raina.
The Mumbai attack was not always aimed at the toes toward the end, being mixed with short deliveries. This allowed the home team to cross 150, but it did not matter in the end.
If Mumbai keep the engine running, it won’t be a matter of surprise if they go all the way in IPL 8.
Mumbai Indians (159 for 4) beat Chennai Super Kings (158 for 5).
After winning only one game in their first six matches, the Rohit Sharma-led side has staged a comeback to win their next five games on the trot, including the one against Chennai Super Kings on Friday. Mumbai subjected CSK to their first defeat at home since 2013, but not without drama.
With three games to go, and two of them at home, Mumbai have to capitalise on their form and aim for a top-two finish ahead of the play-offs. If that happens, MI will play their qualifier game too at the Wankhede Stadium, backed by thunderous support.
The Mumbai chase
Ambati Rayudu’s fine run this season continued while new kid on the Hardik Pandya etched a name for himself. Pandya, who had earlier taken three catches while fielding, did not display any nerves as belted Pawan Negi for three sixes in the penultimate over.
This is a quality that is most sought after in the IPL. As the game progressed, the pitch slowed down. Pandya is no stranger to such conditions. He plies his trade for Baroda in a similar environment.
Rayudu is a natural top-order bat, but he has not been allotted that role with his T20 franchise. But he can expect to be pushec up the ladder if he keeps up his performance.
The opening act of Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons has been vital in Mumbai’s fortunes. But Simmons will have only himself to blame for getting out attempting a big one just after the fall of a wicket. The West Indies player will need to display better temperament next time.
What shoud have been an easy chase turned out to be hugely dramatic, with some dropped catches to add to the nail-biting finish.
Pinning Chennai down
It was a good track to bat on first, and the toss did not go Mumbai’s way. But it was only the toss that didn’t. MI’s bowling kept the marauding CSK batting line-up at bay.
Bounce was on offer first up, which worked to Mumbai’s strength. Marchant de Lange, part of the Mumbai stable since last season, finally got his first break this year in place of Lasith Malinga. The Sri Lankan’s absence was due to the political tension between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka, which has forced players from the island nation to stay away from Chennai.
South African De Lange stands at a towering 6 ft 7 in, and releases the ball from close to seven feet. With his raw pace and bounce, the pacer can prove to be a menace to the opposition. And De Lange has made a strong case for his selection in the future games.
De Lange’s relative invisibility through the season could also work for Mumbai. It won’t be an easy task for opposition teams to figure him out as the business end of the tournament approaches.
An option worth trying
On surfaces which seem to offer even a tinge of assistance to the quicker bowlers, the Mumbai side could experiment with the pace trio of Malinga, De Lange and Mitchell McClenaghan. The trio will complement one another with their distinct styles – Malinga with his slinging yorkers, McClenaghan with angled left-arm pace and De Lange’s short deliveries aimed at the rib cage of batsmen.
This would, however, pose a selection conundrum for the team management. With only four foreigners allowed in the playing eleven, the axe will have to fall on either Lendl Simmons or Kieron Pollard.
The other bowlers
The Mumbai Indians bowling called the shots through most of the CSK innings. They kept taking frequent wickets after the initial blast from Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith.
But R Vinay Kumar can’t afford to err in line and length. He does not have express pace and needs to rely on bowling in the right spots. Against the Super Kings, he was distinctly out of sorts, ending as the most expensive bowler. It was more Brendon McCullum’s placement that got him out rather than Kumar’s bowling.
Jagadeesha Suchith and Harbhajan Singh seem to have combined well. The duo are more effective against left-handers, who need to rely on footwork to deal with their spin. The left-armer Suchith’s ploy to bowl around the wicket and cramp the left-handers for space trapped Suresh Raina.
The Mumbai attack was not always aimed at the toes toward the end, being mixed with short deliveries. This allowed the home team to cross 150, but it did not matter in the end.
If Mumbai keep the engine running, it won’t be a matter of surprise if they go all the way in IPL 8.
Mumbai Indians (159 for 4) beat Chennai Super Kings (158 for 5).
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