Wounded Chargers take on hurt Mumbai Indians

Match facts

Monday, April 9, Visakhapatnam
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)

Big Picture

This is a game between wounded and hurt teams. Deccan Chargers are the more wounded of the two. Already missing big names, they were without their two big hopes, Kumar Sangakkara and Amit Mishra, when they lost to Chennai Super Kings, who had been thumped by Mumbai Indians earlier, Chargers' next opponents. Now, though, Chargers are optimistic about Sangakkara and Mishra, who will both join the team before the start of the game. They will be hoping the two join them ready to play: Sangakkara is flying straight from a gruelling Test series against England, and Mishra is recovering from shin and shoulder injuries, and a hernia operation.

Monday provides Chargers a chance to upset the slightly shaky Mumbai Indians. It is not an easy job, though. Mumbai Indians have all the means at their disposal, except for Sachin Tendulkar who could miss another game because of his finger injury. They are more hurting than wounded after having lost to the unfancied Pune Warriors India. One big glitch, though, is that even after so many seasons they don't know how to use Kieron Pollard the batsman.

Players to watch

Visakhapatnam proved to be a high-scoring venue, just the kind the IPL chairman wants. Richard Levi might not mind it either, with his Popeye arms and manic swings. A sample of it was seen when he scored a fifty on IPL debut, against Super Kings.

Daniel Christian is one of the few big names Chargers have in their squad. He has been more of a bowling allrounder for Australia, but for a weak Chargers side he might need to step up with the bat too.

2011 head-to-head

Chargers managed to upset Mumbai Indians in one of their matches last year, but were beaten comprehensively in the other.

Stats and trivia

• Mumbai Indians have the services of the three leading wicket-takers in IPL history: Lasith Malinga (65), RP Singh (64) and Pragyan Ojha (63).

Quotes

"We can't do anything about injuries. You can't control that. The way I look at it is that it gives the young guys a chance."
Chargers coach Darren Lehmann

"Dada [Sourav Ganguly] is a very special captain. He captained India for so long and so well, and made us believe we are match-winners. Today he again showed his skills as a captain with his bowling changes. I have learned a lot from him."
Harbhajan Singh returns the compliment after getting captaincy props from Ganguly