Mumbai running out of breathing space

Saturday, April 25, 2015
Start time 1600 local (1030 GMT)

Mumbai Indians are almost halfway of their campaign but have lost five matches, three away and two at home at the Wankhede. They have also lost two of their first-choice overseas recruits to injuries - Aaron Finch and Corey Anderson. Add to that shaky pile of problems the lack of runs from batsmen other than Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard, the poor economy of Lasith Malinga and loss of confidence on the experienced Pragyan Ojha's remodelled action, and it becomes hard to imagine Mumbai Indians standing for too long in the competition.

Still, Mumbai Indians know it's a fickle format. In Sunrisers Hyderabad, they have an opposition overtly reliant on their captain David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan for putting up decent totals. If Mumbai Indians can stop those two, the rest could crumble. The only problem is, Mumbai Indians are fast running out of breathing space. They need a win and they need it now.

Mumbai Indians LWLLL (last five matches, most recent first)
Sunrisers Hyderabad WLLWL

It would have been a travesty till last season to debate Lasith Malinga's selection, but not any more. Although Malinga has taken six wickets and bowled smart overs at crucial stages, he is not bowling with the same venom as before. Malinga or no Malinga, Mumbai Indians are leaking runs. Is there some value then of replacing him with an Indian bowler and beef up the batting with the latest recruit, Colin Munro, whose last innings was a record-breaking 23-six-laden 281? Mumbai Indians must ponder.

David Warner's importance in Sunrisers Hyderabad cannot be overstated. He has scored 250 runs at a strike rate of 158.22 and has been Man of the Match in both wins. Among others, only Dhawan has scored more than 100. No wonder it will be up to Warner again to provide the thrust.