Upbeat Mumbai Indians take on formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad today
MUMBAI: Confidence bolstered after an inspirational run chase against Kolkata Knight Riders, a confident Mumbai Indians is ready to lock horns with defending champions Sunrisers Hyderabad in an Indian Premier League encounter, here on Wednesday.
It will be a battle of youngsters with the likes of Nitish Rana, Hardik Pandya on one side and the new star in the horizon Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan with his variations on the other side.
Known for their sluggish starts in previous editions, Mumbai Indians have logged home full points in their very second match thanks to Rana’s half-century and brilliant cameo from Hardik Pandya.
This was after Hardik’s elder brother Krunal put up an impressive performance with the ball grabbing three wickets.
However the third game of the tournament will be the toughest one for Mumbai as they face an in-form Sunrisers squaring off after a couple of comprehensive victories in their previous encounters.
What must have pleased the Mumbai team management is the fact that the win against KKR was achieved with contribution from team’s younger lot.
It was a special knock by Delhi boy Rana, who had suffered a setback recently during the domestic season when he was sent back home by Delhi coach KP Bhaskar on selector’s insistence after three failures in the Vijay Hazaare Trophy.
Ironical it was that Rana’s hour of glory came against Gautam Gambhir’s team as it was the former India opener who had vehemently protested the manner in which the youngster was axed from the squad.
On his part, Rana showed enormous maturity after departure of senior players like Kieron Pollard and Rohit Sharma. Hardik’s 11-ball 29 showed why Indian team management rates him so highly in limited overs format.
Earlier, his brother Krunal put brakes on KKR with two quick wickets during the early part of the innings. Mumbai would now be hoping that their regulars Rohit, Pollard and Harbhajan also hit the straps at the earliest.
Rohit will like to get a good score under the belt since he is coming back from injury and got a harsh decision against KKR. His show of dissent earned him a reprimand also. With Lasith Malinga improving in his latter spell after being off the boil in his first over, and Jasprit Bumrah around to bowl into the block-hole, Mumbai’s death bowling looks sorted for now. The one change Mumbai could make is to bring in Tim Southee for his New Zealand compatriot Mitchell Mcclenaghan, who leaked plenty of runs against KKR. Whatever be the combination, it will but will have to confront a superb finisher like Yuvraj Singh.
The swashbuckler did not get to bat in the second game against Gujarat Lions, with captain David Warner and fellowaustralian all rounder Moises Henriques finishing the job of chasing a small total with aplomb. David Warner’s return to form will also keep Mumbai worried. The X-factor in the attack is Afghanistan leggie Rashid, who has bamboozled the batsmen in both matches and has already five scalps in his kitty. KOLKATA: Star India pacer Umesh Yadav’s entry on Tuesday bolstered Kolkata Knight Riders bowling attack ahead of their IPL home campaign against Kings XI Punjab scheduled April 13.
Umesh is likely to replace an out of place Ankit Rajpoot.
“Umesh Yadav is all geared up to make a thumping start in IPL,” KKR posted a working-out picture of the 29-year-old who tweeted: “Ami KKR... First day with my team training time.”
The pacer missed the first two KKR matches due to right hip and lower back soreness after a gruelling home season where he played 12 of the 13 Tests.
On spin-friendly conditions, Yadav was incisive with his new-found rhythm as he gave vital breakthroughs to finish the season as India’s third-highest wicket-taker behind Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. A fitagain Yadav is likely to replace Ankit Rajpoot in the bowling line-up for their match against Kings XI Punjab, who have posted back-toback victories. Yadav’s return will be a big boost to the side who lost to Mumbai Indians in their last leg in a match their star opener Chris Lynn aggravated an old injury on his left shoulder. Meanwhile, KKR Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Venky Mysore on Tuesday said that Chris Lynn has aggravated an old shoulder injury and is under observation. The Queenslander suffered the injury while fielding during KKR’S last game against Mumbai Indians in the IPL. “All those anxious abt @lynny50. He aggravated an old injury. Being treated & under observation by @Kkriders team,” Mysore tweeted. Lynn clutched the joint in pain after attempting a catch to dismiss Jos Buttler in the outfield. Meanwhile, Lynn’s further participation in the IPL will be known only after complete evaluation of the extent of his shoulder injury, his team Kolkata Knight Riders said on Tuesday. NEW DELHI: The India U-17 team presently preparing for the U-17 football World Cup left Indian shores for an exposure tour to Europe where they would be playing a series of practice matches in Portugal, France, Italy and Hungary and a tournament in Italy.
The 26-member squad, accompanied by seven officials including head coach Luis Norton de Matos, will be practising in Lisbon till May 15 where they are expected to play practice matches against U-17 youth teams of Sporting Lisbon, Benfica, Estoril and Setubal, among others.
The squad would then be proceeding to Paris to play a practice match against PSG U-17 Team.
The team also has a match scheduled against the Italian U-17 national team in Rome and will also be participating in the Lazio Cup.
The Lazio Cup is a tournament played among 16 teams and expected teams which are to participate in the Tournament include Albania U-17, Colombia U-17, a team from CAF Canadian selection, and a number of Clubs like Fiorentina, Lazio, Sampdoria, Cagliari, Pescara, Serie B Italia, Serie C Italia and four local teams.