IPL 2016, MI vs SRH Playing 11:Probable XI for Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad
The Mumbai Indians will lock horns with the Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 37 of the VIVO IPL 2016 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ADA-VDCA Stadium in Vishakapatnam. Both teams are currently performing quite well despite having started off their respective campaigns on a poor note. While Mumbai lost their opening match of the tournament, the Sunrisers had a worse start by conceding their first two games in the 2016 IPL. The defending champions have won 5 out of the 9 matches they have played so far and are placed 5th in the points table. The Hyderabad side has also won the same number of matches but has played one match less and occupies the 4th position on the basis of a superior run-rate. It is a crucial match for both teams as they will be looking to move one step closer to a spot in the playoffs.
Here’s how the Mumbai Indians may line up for this all-important clash:
Batting
The batting has centered mainly around the exploits of skipper Rohit Sharma for the Mumbai Indians this season. Rohit has been in exceptional form, scoring 383 runs in 9 matches so far and has played a few match-winning knocks. Ambati Rayudu, too, has proved his mettle by putting up an impressive tally of 271 runs and providing much-needed support to his captain.
Even though they have not excelled as much as Sharma or Rayudu, the likes of Parthiv Patel and Jos Buttler have put together some useful runs which have served the team’s purpose quite well. Kieron Pollard had been struggling to score in the first few matches of the season but he has recovered from his bad patch and has played a couple of explosive innings in recent matches.
Although the MI batting line-up has been pretty impressive thus far, they will need to do well consistently if the team wants to stay in the race for defending its title.
All-rounders
The all-rounders have performed moderately well for the Mumbai Indians in the current IPL season. Krunal Pandya has been the surprise element in the Mumbai team and has done well with both bat and ball. His 111 runs in the tournament have come at a lethal strike rate of slightly under 182 and he has an economy rate of under 8.
His younger brother Hardik Pandya, though, has failed to live up to the expectations from him as he has been quite ordinary in both departments, more so with the bat. Pollard has not bowled much this year but he may be needed to pitch in when required.
Bowling
Mitchell McCleanaghan has been Mumbai’s leading wicket-taker in this year’s IPL with 13 wickets in 9 matches and an economy rate of under 8. He has formed a great pair with Indian pace bowling sensation Jasprit Bumrah, who has continued to impress with 11 wickets till now. They have received some fine support from the experienced Tim Southee, who has 7 scalps from his 8 games.
The spin attack has been a cause for concern with ace spinner Harbhajan Singh struggling to get things right. The veteran offie has got just 5 wickets thus far and has given away quite a few runs with an economy of over 8. Most of the other spinners in the MI squad have not been given too many chances to perform this season. For the 2015 IPL champions to perform even better going forward, the spinners will need to step up and give the pace bowlers adequate support.
Probable Playing XI
Rohit Sharma (c), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ambati Rayudu, Jos Buttler, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Harbhajan Singh, Tim Southee, Mitchell McCleanaghan, Jasprit Bumrah.