Venue: M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore | Date & Time: 11 May at 1830 (GST)
BIG PICTURE
The Royal Challengers’ thrilling one-run win over the Kings XI Punjab came at precisely the right time. Had they lost that game too, they would surely have been cut adrift of the play-off spots. But now, with eight points from nine games and a game over both the Rising Pune Supergiants and Wednesday’s opponents the Mumbai Indians, they are in with a shout.
The Mumbai Indians, for their part, ran into a wall last time out. A crushing 85-run defeat to the Sunrisers Hyderabad left them with a negative net run rate and ten points from their ten games. They begin this game in fifth, level on points with the Delhi Daredevils in fourth but behind on net run rate.
A win for the Royal Challengers would put them above the Mumbai Indians on account of their superior run rate and on the periphery of the top four. Despite a miserable performance against the Sunrisers, a win for Mumbai would lift them, temporarily at least, into fourth and above the Delhi Daredevils, who play the Sunrisers the following day.
Bangalore’s phenomenal batting line-up will be glad to be at home once more. Their bowling still remains a concern, and if the Mumbai Indians get stuck in, the Chinnaswamy could see another run-feast.
KEY BATTLES
AB de Villiers vs Mumbai seamers: AB de Villiers’ consistency against all comers has been a major part of his franchise’s superb performance with the bat. He has become the prize wicket for bowlers. After being stung badly by the Sunrisers, McClenaghan, Southee and Bumrah will be raring to have a go against one of the tournament’s leading batsmen.
Rohit Sharma vs Bangalore bowling: Despite the introduction of Chris Jordan, the Royal Challengers’ bowling is struggling to get by. Mumbai’s skipper and their outstanding batsman Rohit Sharma carries many hopes and expectations on his shoulders. His role while batting first will be important. While batting second, it will be critical, for chasing represents Mumbai’s best chance of winning the game.
WATCH OUT FOR
Royal Challengers’ MVP – Shane Watson
Shane Watson: After heading a superb late surge against the Supergiants with the bat (36 runs off 13 balls, plus bowling figures of 4-0-24-3), Shane Watson registered further impressive bowling figures against the Kings XI (4-0-22-2). His all-round contribution will be critical if Bangalore are to make a dash for the play-off places and it would not be an exaggeration to claim he could become the Royal Challengers’ MVP. Mumbai beware.
EXPECTED XIs
The Royal Challengers have found a dependable bowler in Shane Watson, and are not likely to change a winning team around too much, now that they seem to have found a suitable combination with players like Lokesh Rahul also stepping up.
Virat Kohli, Lokesh Rahul (wk), AB de Villiers, Shane Watson, Travis Head, Sachin Baby, Stuart Binny, Chris Jordan, Varun Aaron, Iqbal Abudlla/Parvez Rasool, Yuzvendra Chahal
After a thoroughly chastening defeat for the Mumbai Indians, it may finally be time to ring in the changes. Their present combination has proved only moderately successful, and although the exact nature of the changes is uncertain, it would certainly not hurt to give Martin Guptill or Corey Anderson a go.
Rohit Sharma, Jos Buttler/Martin Guptill, Parthiv Patel (wk), Ambati Rayudu, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Tim Southee/Corey Anderson, Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell McClenaghan
STRAIGHT FROM TWITTER