IPL has entered in the second half of the season as half the journey is already covered. Where one team seems to have sealed up the top spot, others are lingering.
Mumbai had a commendable and consistent season whereas Gujarat lions have not performed up to expectations. After losing the opening game against Rising Pune Supergiant, Mumbai Indians have transformed into a completely different animal, winning matches back-to-back. Pune ended Mumbai’s six-match winning streak with a three-run victory on Monday. Defending 24 off the last 12 balls, Ben Stokes bowled an economical penultimate over and conceded just seven runs, leaving Rohit Sharma’s team with an onerous task of scoring 17 runs off the final six balls.
PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER:
Mumbai beat the Lions in Wankhede in a close game by 6 wickets.
GL might feel they were 15 short, but their bowlers kept them in the game until the end. Raina continued his fine form and notched up his second fifty of the season, in the process, took the Orange Cap away from Gambhir. The impetus in the middle part of the innings came from Pollard, who was sent up the order. The West Indian struck a fine 39-run innings and almost took his side to the brink of victory. Rohit applied the finishing touches to the innings.
TALKING POINTS:
Mumbai Indians have been one of the heavyweights of the Indian Premier League from the beginning and they enter every season as potential champions. This season is no different. Rohit Sharma getting back in form is a huge upliftment for the team though they suffered a loss against Pune. Krunal Pandya’s absence might hurt the lower middle order a bit but players like Pollard and Hardik might play their part enough. Buttler and his big hitting prowess might come in handy. But also the lions had been performing well lately defeating Knights. They have a good batting line-up and if Mumbai’s weak spin attack is not enough then the result can come otherwise.
PREDICTED XI:
Parthiv Patel (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell Johnson, Kieron Pollard, Karn Sharma, Joss Buttler, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nitish Rana, Krunal Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya