The Mumbai Indians have always been a team of stars. From Sachin Tendulkar to Lasith Malinga to Kieron Pollard to Rohit Sharma, they have had the biggest names. But this year, they have been more of a working-class team, mapping their way to the playoffs with gritty performances, taking setbacks in their stride and regrouping quickly.
It has been a strange fusion of elite and little-known characters who joined hands to pull Mumbai out of the doldrums. Now that they are among the last four, the most successful IPL team face yet another do-or-die challenge when they face Lucknow Super Giants in the Eliminator contest in Chennai on Wednesday.
Mumbai Indians’ keeperopener Ishan Kishan has struck three fifties in IPL 2023 so far. Will the fourth one come on Wednesday? Picture courtesy: MI
If Suryakumar Yadav has rediscovered his unconventional strokeplay to hit four fifties and a century and has given Mumbai the single biggest push with the bat, there’s no denying what Akash Madhwal, who plays first-class cricket for Uttarakhand, has done with the ball to help Rohit Sharma’s side make the playoffs.
There have been others too who, at different points in time, have quite unexpectedly pulled the rabbit out of the hat to deliver magical performances this season. Remember how Arjun Tendulkar nailed it in the death overs in a couple of matches? Mumbai will need to string all such stories together to script an inspiring performance against the Super Giants on Wednesday.
Rohit Sharma with a young fan on way to Chennai for the Eliminator contest against Lucknow Super Giants. Mumbai Indians will not only need Rohit the captain to bring out his best moves, they will also hope he fires as an opener. Picture courtesy: MI
The Lucknow franchise has blown hot and cold this season. They started with a series of victories, lost some zing midway, had their captain ruled out with an injury, but still, they somehow did the needful to qualify for the playoffs as the third-placed team.
Like Mumbai, Lucknow too aren’t perfect. Stand-in Lucknow captain Krunal Pandya will have to be accurate with his decisions as his counterpart is a battle-hardened professional who has been in similar situations multiple times. Rohit is not only a fine skipper, but with that, he also carries luck when in playoffs. At least, past records say so.
But captain Rohit will not have to wait for luck if his performers hit the right buttons on Wednesday. Opener Ishan Kishan has been in decent form and his three fifties, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is getting sharper with each outing and Piyush Chawla is ever-ready with his googlies. Not to forget seamer Madhwal, who has taken seven wickets in the last three matches.
Lucknow will count on Ravi Bishnoi and captain Krunal to make use of the Chennai pitch, while Quinton de Kock must have a good match with the bat for them to challenge Mumbai.
Mumbai have been unable to beat Lucknow in three meetings so far. But tell that to SKY (Suryakumar) and he might just loft that record over deep fine leg with utter disdain, like he usually does.
Today’s match
■ Eliminator: Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians, 7.30pm, Chennai, live on Star Sports & Jio Cinema
