HEAD TO HEAD: Here are the men who matter

HARDIK PANDYA V/S ANRICH NORTJE

He has blown hot and cold this season, but in a final only the naive will discount the game-changing potential of Hardik Pandya. Not quite as potent a fifth bowler as before, Hardik still remains Mumbai’s most dangerous finisher with the bat. In what is expected to be a clash of fine margins, an all-rounder like Hardik could turn out to be the one to edge his side over the line. Intent on stopping Hardik from providing the final flourish to the Mumbai innings will be one of the finds of this season, South African death bowling specialist Anrich Nortje. Delhi captain Shreyas Iyer has deployed Nortje to devastating effect this year, picking the right moments to allow Nortje’s variations to choke the opposition’s batting. The fact that Hardik tends to sit deep in his crease while slogging through the leg side makes him the perfect candidate to neutralise Nortje’s accuracy, but such a feat remains easier said than done.

ROHIT SHARMA V/S KAGISO RABADA

With doubts swirling around his participation in India’s upcoming tour of Australia, the gaze of the cricketing world will be sharper than ever on Rohit Sharma. The Mumbai Indians skipper has already clinched four IPL final wins, and if he is to extend his own record as the most decorated captain in the competition, he might have to rely on his bat to produce more than it has so far in an underwhelming campaign. Entrusted with keeping Rohit quiet in the opening exchanges will be Delhi Capitals’ spearhead Kagiso Rabada, who currently holds the Purple Cap with 29 wickets, at an exceptional strike rate of just below 13 runs per wicket. It is no secret that Rohit struggles against the fast, moving ball early in his innings, and in spite of having enjoyed more success towards the death in 2020, Rabada will be keen to send shockwaves across the Mumbai line-up by sending their captain packing as soon as possible.

JASPRIT BUMRAH V/S SHIKHAR DHAWAN

After an uncharacteristically slow start to the tournament, Jasprit Bumrah has picked up steam, with 27 wickets to his name this season. In previous editions, Lasith Malinga led the MI bowling to glory on the grandest stage. This year, the onus is on Bumrah to follow in the footsteps of the Sri Lankan legend. One of Bumrah’s main responsibilities in the final will be to prevail against India teammate Shikhar Dhawan, who could yet manage to seal the Orange Cap. Dhawan’s revitalised batting in the latter stages of the season has given Delhi much-needed momentum at the top, and as was evident during his back-to-back centuries earlier in the competition, once Gabbar gets in, he usually gets big. Bumrah’s ability to bring the ball back into the left-handed Dhawan could be the most intriguing subplot in this face-off, which will be all about seizing the early initiative.

SURYAKUMAR YADAV V/S AXAR PATEL

With close to 500 runs at an average over 40 and a strike rate approaching 150, Suryakumar Yadav has been the lynchpin of the Mumbai middle order this season. Quinton de Kock and Ishan Kishan may have been more prolific, but it is Yadav whose knocks have had the most match-winning impact. Having added composure and situational awareness to his mesmerising arsenal of shots, Yadav will be keen to continue his fantastic form with another spellbinding innings in the final. In order to do so, Yadav will have to get the better of the wily left-arm spin of Axar Patel, who has chipped in with 14 wickets this term at a priceless economy rate of just over six-and-a-half runs per over. Axar has also sealed games with his pinch-hitting, but remains primarily a bowler who must not allow a run accumulator like Yadav to dominate the often underlooked but crunch phase of the middle overs.

RAHUL CHAHAR V/S MARCUS STOINIS

Never the headline act or the centre of attention, Rahul Chahar has quietly become a valuable member of the defending champions’ outfit. With 15 wickets so far this season at a steady economy of just over eight runs per over, Chahar’s consistency has been crucial to Mumbai dictating the tempo of the middle overs. On the other hand, Marcus Stoinis played a fabulous cameo when promoted up the order in the final eliminator against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Having seen how Stoinis can take the pacers to the cleaners, Rohit Sharma will be tempted to pit Chahar’s leg spin against the explosive hitting prowess of the Australian, irrespective of where the latter comes into bat. This is not one of those tussles that seems immediately appetising, but considering the dynamics of both teams, could very well turn out to be of vital importance.