IPL 9 Match 12 Preview: Mumbai Indians lock horns with Sunrisers

The Mumbai Indians and the Sunrisers Hyderabad have one thing in common when it comes to the ninth edition of the IPL. They have had indifferent starts to their respective campaigns, thereby finding themselves on the wrong end of the table. While the Sunrisers have lost both their opening matches, the defending champions, the Mumbai Indians have won just one of their three matches played. Thus, it will be all to play for when the two sides square off at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

Team News

Mumbai Indians

Apart from the highly impressive win at the Eden Gardens, the performances by the Mumbai Indians have been rather substandard. While a case can certainly be made that the Indians are slow starters, the performances thus far have raised many an eyebrow. Kieron Pollard, having nursed his injury and found himself back into the batting order has been in horrific form with both bat and ball. However, it is unlikely that Ricky Ponting and the rest of the Mumbai Indians management will change any of the personnel.

Mumbai Indians however, all eyes will be on the older of the Pandya brothers. Krunal Pandya lit up the Mumbai Indians display with a quickfire 20 and a terrific bowling performance that saw him cement his place in the side alongside brother Hardik.

Sunrisers Hyderabad

In similar contrast to their opponents, the Sunrisers Hyderabad have been in terrible form of late. The injury to Ashish Nehra has seen the bowling attack severely depleted of quality pacers. There isn’t much depth in the batting as well with the likes of Shikhar Dhawan and Deepak Hooda still trying to find their feet. Eoin Morgan has been the lone warrior in the batting lineup that is seeming been suppressed by quality bowling in the IPL thus far.

The Sunrisers however, will be overjoyed with the performance from Bangladeshi pacer Mustafizur Rahman. He has been the lone shining light in a side that has been denuded of quality pacers over the years. The spotlight will well and truly be on the 20-year old as a massive responsibility is thrust on his young shoulders. He will be partnered by Barinder Saran as the duo will be leading the pace attack. Despite these massive predicaments, it remains to be seen whether the Sunrisers can indeed pull off a win against the Mumbai Indians.

Playing XI (Probable)

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (C), Parthiv Patel (WK), Jos Buttler/Martin Guptill, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Mitchell McCleneghan, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Ambati Rayudu, Tim Southee

Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner (C), Naman Ojha (WK), Shikhar Dhawan, Deepak Hooda, Moises Henriques, Eoin Morgan, Karn Sharma, Ashish Reddy, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Barinder Sran, Mustafizur Rahman

StAttack

1. Kieron Pollard has had a low-key start to the season, scoring exactly 1 run per match and not getting a bowl.

2. David Warner and Eoin Morgan have scored approximately 44% of SRH’s runs in the tournament. They have accounted for 144 of the 324 runs in the tournament.

3. Mumbai has lost both their home matches and won their only away match so far this season.

4. Bhuvneshwar Kumar has an economy rate of 5.41 against the Mumbai Indians.

Also read – IPL has been a great learning experience: Mustafizur Rahman