Struggling MI take on SRH
Under pressure after slumping to their fourth loss in five games, defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have the onerous task of rediscovering their winning touch when they lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad in an IPL match here on Tuesday.
MI had started their campaign with three losses on the trot before a victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore arrested the streak, but the three-wicket defeat yesterday in Jaipur to Rajasthan Royals, their fourth last-over setback, has put them under tremendous pressure.
With nine games left before the play-off stage, MI find themselves in a difficult situation to win at least seven of them to improve their chances. As such, a win over SRH tomorrow is imperative to keep them in the hunt.
Sunrisers too have slipped from their earlier top perch after suffering back-to-back defeats, following three straight wins, and would be as keen to bounce back to winning ways.
MI’s campaign has been led from the front by local product Suryakumar Yadav who has been the top batsman with a consistent run of good scores in the opening slot which has left him four short of reaching the 200 mark for the season.
However, lack of runs from Rohit Sharma barring one match-winning knock of 94 against Royal Challengers Bangalore has hurt badly the three-time champions’ run and they need their inspirational captain to make it up with a big knock against SRH.
Another major disappointment has been the big West Indian Kieron Pollard who has mustered just 54 runs in five games. He is in danger of being left out at the bench.
The Trinidadian’s compatriot Evin Lewis has been neither outstanding nor a total let-down with the bat, but the Pandya brothers — Hardik and Krunal — have not sparkled with the bat.
Pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah showed he is close to his best in yesterday’s game against RR although he could not get MI across the
finish line with a final burst of wickets, while Mustafizur Rahman has been a good foil.
Mitchell McClenaghan has got among the wickets but has leaked runs too while the Pandya siblings have done a decent job with the ball.
MI have not made too many changes to their playing eleven and could mull over it seriously before it is too late.