Venue: ACA-VDCA Stadium, Vishakapatnam | Date & Time: 13 May at 1830 (GST)
BIG PICTURE
After their shambolic performance against the Sunrisers, the defending champions returned to winning ways by handing Bangalore a second thrashing in as many games this season. Presently, the Mumbai Indians need to win two of their remaining three matches to ensure progress into the play-offs. They will expect to defeat an out-of-sorts KXIP in their match at Vishakhapatnam.
Punjab’s season has been a disappointment, having lost seven matches. This effectively means, even if they win every single one of their remaining matches, they will need a few other results to go in their favour to stand a chance of qualifying.
The two Ms – Glenn Maxwell and David Miller – who made Punjab a formidable outfit in 2014, haven’t discovered their Midas touch. But it’s precisely the mercurial nature of these two batters that makes Punjab a nightmare to face: both are extremely capable of single-handedly winning the match within a span of five overs. The liberty of playing in a sink-or-swim situation might just bring the best out of the explosive batsmen.
Despite Mumbai’s relatively healthy position on the points table, they have to find answers to a few pressing questions – and find them within next three matches. Their first issue is that of their opening partnership. Parthiv Patel, barring his one innings against KXIP earlier this season, has been in poor form.
The Rohit Sharma-led team have only two double-digit opening partnerships in their eleven matches. Secondly, it’s unclear whether Hardik Pandya fits into the team’s plans or not. He’s been given ample opportunities to show his capabilities with the bat; however, he’s not given a single performance of substance.
His replacement, Nitish Rana, didn’t impress much on Wednesday. It will be premature to discard him after just one match, though. Mumbai need to find a combination, and do it soon.
KEY BATTLE
David Miller vs Himself: Things have gone this horribly wrong for the South African batsman, and he’ll be feeling the heat. After losing the captaincy mid-season, it was expected that he would get back amongst the runs but the drought is yet to end. 131 runs at an average of a little over 16 isn’t David Miller – the world knows that. Can he conquer his inner demons and prove that to himself?
WATCH OUT FOR
Sandeep (L) and Mohit (R) have been a handful for KXIP
The Sharma Seamers: The Punjab bowling revolves around the two medium pacers, Sandeep and Mohit Sharma. Given the nature of the Vishakhapatnam pitch, where Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Ashish Nehra wrecked havoc against Mumbai, the Sharmas will try to replicate the swing and control of the aforementioned bowlers. Early breakthroughs in the form of Ambati Rayudu and Rohit Sharma might go a long way in pushing Mumbai on the backfoot.
EXPECTED XIs
Mumbai may potentially leave Parthiv Patel out and get a seaming option in either Hardik Pandya or the untested Nathu Singh. Given spin is unlikely to play a massive role on this pitch, throwing the gloves to Jos Buttler will not be a risk either. Rayudu has practically played the opener’s role in all the matches he’s played at three, so it will not be asking too much to get him to actually open with his captain, Rohit.
Ambati Rayudu, Rohit Sharma, Nitish Rana, Krunal Pandya, Jos Buttler (wk), Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya / Nathu Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Tim Southee, Mitch McCleneghan, Jasprit Bumrah
Punjab will probably head in with the same team, with one possible exception: bringing back Glen Maxwell for Farhan Behardian, assuming the former has recovered from his “minor strain.”
M Vijay, Hashim Amla, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), David Miller, Glenn Maxwell / Farhan Behardian, Marcus Stoinis, Axar Patel, KC Cariappa, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, Anureet Singh
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