Match facts

Friday, April 27, Delhi
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)

Big Picture

Mumbai Indians travel to Delhi with a chance to join the home side at the top of the table at the halfway stage in the tournament. Currently, just two points separate the top seven teams and Delhi Daredevils would hope to consolidate their lead.

The two teams met in Mumbai ten days ago in a match that promised a lot. However, a Sachin Tendulkar and Lasith Malinga-less Mumbai Indians' team was blown away by Daredevils' pace attack to be dismissed for 92. Since then, Mumbai Indians have posted 163 and 171 in two matches against Kings XI Punjab, but their bowling has been taken for runs as well.

When he played alongside Malinga this season, Munaf Patel picked up ten wickets at an economy-rate of 6.34. In the last three games since Malinga's injury, Munaf has bowled 11 wicketless overs at an economy-rate of 8.81. The figures for Mumbai Indians' captain Harbhajan Singh reflect the same story. Harbhajan, who has just one wicket this season, had an economy-rate of 6.73 with Malinga in the attack. He has gone for nine an over in the absence of Malinga. However, Malinga has rejoined the team now and is likely to be available for selection.

Since their easy win in Mumbai, Daredevils' batting has been led by Virender Sehwag and Kevin Pietersen, who have scored 151 and 162 runs in the last three games. With Mahela Jayawardene and Ross Taylor waiting for their chance to fire, Daredevils' batting would hold the edge. In the last two games against Pune Warriors, Daredevils' bowlers have struggled to take wickets and stop the run flow. Against, a strong Mumbai Indians' batting, the Morne Morkel-led attack would hope to repeat their Mumbai performance.

Form guide

(most recent first)

Delhi Daredevils: WLWWW
Mumbai Indians: WLLWW

Players to watch

Sachin Tendulkar doesn't rely on big shots. Daredevils' pace might be more useful for Tendulkar to play his cuts and flicks. He would be looking to provide solidity from one end allowing other attacking batsmen to play around him.

In the first five games, Virender Sehwag scored 20, 0, 33, 32 and 7, wasting a few starts. But in the last two matches, he has scored two fifties at a strike rate of 180 and has looked intent to bat longer.

Stats and trivia

• Sachin Tendulkar has hit 226 fours, the highest in IPL history. Sehwag is third on the list with 191. However, for all batsmen who have scored more than 1000 runs in the IPL, Tendulkar has hit the second lowest number of sixes - 21.
• Irfan Pathan has bowled the most deliveries in the IPL - 1323.

Quotes

"Lord's is traditional, English. There are knowledgeable people. At Kotla it is intense, loud. I have lot of respect for crowd here. It's loudest than any other [ground]."
Kevin Pietersen when asked to compare the two grounds

" He [Harbhajan] is a good bowler and his time will come. I am sure he will come into his own."
Shaun Pollock, Mumbai Indians' coach