Stokes-Buttler swap on the cards as Rajasthan Royals face off against ruthless Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians, who are looking for a top-two finish, will likely be without Rohit Sharma again
Hemant Brar
24-Oct-2020
Big picture
A win will mean completely different things for the Mumbai Indians and the Rajasthan Royals when they meet on Sunday evening in Abu Dhabi. For the Mumbai Indians, it will further strengthen their chances of a top-two finish, which at the moment looks like a three-way race with the Delhi Capitals and the Royal Challengers Bangalore. For the Royals, who are currently on eight points from 11 games, it will keep their playoff hopes alive.
Usually slow starters, the Mumbai Indians have been a different unit this time. Since losing the opening match of the tournament to the Chennai Super Kings, the only two results to not go their way came via Super Overs. Their ten-wicket win over the Super Kings on Friday, in the absence of their regular captain Rohit Sharma, was another example of how ruthless they have been this season.
The Royals, on the other hand, have lost three out of their last four games, their two wins at the start of the tournament and Sanju Samson's scintillating knocks in those both looking like things from the distant past. Ben Stokes' entry was supposed to revive their fortunes but the experiment to open with him hasn't worked. In the bowling, they rely too much on Jofra Archer. Can they do a Tewatia?
In the news
Sharma missed the game against the Super Kings because of a hamstring injury and it's unlikely he will be available for Sunday's match.
Previous meeting
After opting to bat, Suryakumar Yadav's unbeaten 47-ball 79 helped the Mumbai Indians post a daunting 193 for 4 in Abu Dhabi. In reply, Jos Buttler fought a lone battle with 70 off 44 balls as Jasprit Bumrah's 4 for 20 helped bundle the Royals out for 136.
Likely XIs
Rajasthan Royals: 1 Robin Uthappa, 2 Jos Buttler, 3 Sanju Samson (wk), 4 Steven Smith (capt), 5 Ben Stokes, 6 Riyan Parag, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Shreyas Gopal, 10 Ankit Rajpoot, 11 Kartik Tyagi
Mumbai Indians: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Ishan Kishan, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Saurabh Tiwary, 5 Kieron Pollard (capt), 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9 Rahul Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
Strategy punts
Stats that matter
Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo