Stung Mumbai target revival at new home

Sunday, May 15, 2016
Start time 2000 local (1430 GMT)

This is usually the time when Mumbai Indians make a frenetic dash for a playoff spot from the lower rungs of the table. Mumbai have started well this season, and despite a few stumbles, they are in with a chance to make the top four. Their recent performances, however, would be a concern, especially at Visakhapatnam, which was assigned as their 'home' ground after the IPL was forced to move out of Maharashtra.

Mumbai have lost both matches at their new home by big margins, having struggled to cope with a sluggish surface that has fettered their stroke-makers. Rohit Sharma might not admit it, but the batting has been too reliant on him. With only two games to go and a congested points table to negotiate, Mumbai would need Nitish Rana and Krunal Pandya to step up.

Delhi Daredevils, on the other hand, have had a fine season, but have stuttered a bit because of injuries and a flurry of changes to their regular XI. With most of the support staff having worked with Rajasthan Royals in the past, they might remember how odd tinkering perhaps cost the team a playoff spot two years ago. Now is the time for them to zero in on a settled line up.

Mumbai Indians LWLWW (last five matches, most recent first)
Delhi Daredevils WLLWW

Ambati Rayudu has been a crisis manager for Mumbai this season. He has either set the innings up at the top of the order or held it together after the loss of early wickets. In conditions that haven't been the easiest to bat on, his contribution will be critical.

Sanju Samson may not have blitzed his way through Daredevils' campaign like he did with Rajasthan Royals when he first burst onto the scene. But his consistent contributions at the top have empowered a relatively inexperienced batting line-up. His ability to milk the bowling at a fair clip will be handy on a surface that hasn't been conducive to big-hitting.

Mumbai have generally been loath to fiddling with their combination, but given the need to shore up their batting, there is likely to be a rethink in this regard. Rohit Sharma hinted after the loss against Kings XI Punjab that they might play a foreign batsman in place of either Tim Southee or Mitchell McClenaghan. Either Martin Guptill or Corey Anderson, who also gives Mumbai a bowling option, is likely get a look in. If Guptill is picked, he will probably replace Unmukt Chand at the top, and one of Vinay Kumar or Shreyas Gopal is likely replace Southee, depending on the pitch and conditions.

Mumbai Indians (probable): 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Unmukt Chand/Martin Guptill, 3 Ambati Rayudu, 4 Nitish Rana, 5 Jos Buttler (wk), 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Tim Southee/R Vinay Kumar/Shreyas Gopal, 10 Mitchell McClenaghan, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Zaheer Khan's fitness has been a constant worry for Daredevils. During training, Zaheer began by bowling off a few steps and then gradually went full tilt with no apparent discomfort. A call on his availability would be taken on the morning of the game. If Zaheer is fit, Jayant Yadav will make way for him; if he isn't, JP Duminy will continue to lead the side.

Delhi Daredevils (probable): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Mayank Agarwal, 3 Karun Nair, 4 Sanju Samson, 5 Rishabh Pant, 6 JP Duminy, 7 Jayant Yadav/Zaheer Khan(capt), 8 Chris Morris, 9 Amit Mishra, 10 Nathan Coulter-Nile, 11 Mohammed Shami

This is a fresh pitch, different from the one used in the last game, but it isn't known if it will offer more comfort for batsmen. The city also received moderate showers on match eve, but there is no rain forecast for Sunday.

"His cricket brain is unrivalled, I think, especially with the fields he sets and his thinking around what the batsman is thinking, and where they are going to try and hit the ball. When you're seeing a bowlers meeting, and he's talking about these plans and you're not quite sure what's going on. He's one of those blokes - when he talks, you really listen."
Nathan Coulter-Nile on Zaheer Khan