The Mumbai Indians have mastered the art of beginning with a slow pick-up before accelerating at breakneck speed. They begin the season with a series of losses but then start mowing down competition with powerful performances.
This time too, they started with three defeats but are now on the verge of a hat-trick of wins. But they will have to overcome the Chennai Super Kings challenge for that.
Mumbai and Chennai share IPL’s greatest rivalry with each winning the title five times. So Sunday’s match at the Wankhede can be a blockbuster contest. But this time, unlike what has been the practice for years, stalwarts Rohit Sharma and Mahendra Singh Dhoni will not be attending the toss with both the teams now having new captains.
With a batting line-up that oozes big-hitters, Mumbai can torment any bowling attack. But their bowling unit is their weak link, despite one Jasprit Bumrah setting new standards of excellence every time he takes the field. Chennai, therefore, will try to exploit that chink in the armour of their hosts on the batting-friendly surface of the Wankhede.
It is unclear if Chennai will get the services of Matheesa Pathirana on Sunday,
but if the Lankan slinger doesn’t play, Mustafizur Rahman will have to shoulder greater responsibility.
