IPL 6: Match 2 - RCB vs MI - Mumbai Indians Preview

The IPL is under way and the first match didn’t exactly rate high on the excitement quotient. Nothing to worry about though as the second match promises to be one of the most exciting encounters of the season as the Mumbai Indians take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore in a tricky away tie.

As they kick off the new season under Ponting, their 4th captain in 6 years, Mumbai Indians start off as favourites to finish in the top 4, just like every other season. The expectations are very high considering the quality of players in the squad. Also, they will be determined to live up to the expectations and win the IPL for the first time. And not for Sachin.

Even though on paper the team looks very strong, there is a sense of skepticism in the air. A lot of eyes are on Sachin Tendulkar as the team has struggled to get a steady opening combination since last season. While there are not a lot of major injury issues in the team, Malinga is set to miss the first match, which is a hard blow for the team as his toe-crushers have been very important in turning the matches their way. On the one end where the batting looks sound with the likes of Rayadu, Karthik and IPL performer Rohit Sharma, a grey cloud hovers around Sachin, Ponting and Pollard. The bowling department does not seem a very safe one without the Slinga and that could be a cause of worry in the first match against the likes of Gayle, AB de Villiers and Kohli.

Conditions

The conditions at the Chinnaswamy Stadium will be very un-Indian like. The pitch is expected to have quite some pace and bounce in it. One would say that the batsmen are good enough to not only survive but thrive on this pitch. As far as the bowling is concerned, they will miss Lasith Malinga’s services for the match and hence, it could be a toss-up between Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mitch Johnson for the overseas seamer spot.

Key Players

Ponting – Not just for his batting, but also for the way he captains this team. Ponting is known for his knack and hunger to lead sides to victories and this will be put to test as he takes over a side which has come close to winning the IPL but hasn’t.

Pollard – No matter what his form guide says, he remains the X-Factor for the team. A lot depends on where he bats. Hopefully, the new team management will promote him higher in the batting order. Nevertheless, he is very handy with the ball and saves a lot of runs with his impeccable fielding and cup-sized palms.

Points to ponder

Will MI open with a Ponting-Tendulkar combo and risk a slow but safe start? If not, who opens alongside Sachin? Blizzard? Hughes? Or could it be Rohit Sharma?

The domestic bowlers’ selection will continue to be a headache, whether to go for Pragyan Ojha or Harbhajan Singh and the other battle being between Munaf Patel and Dhawal Kulkarni.

Game Strategy

Get Gayle out cheaply. The whole RCB team revolves around Gayle. Whether Mumbai bowl first or second, the bowlers have to try and get Gayle out very early in the innings.

Probable Line-Up

Tendulkar, Sharma, Ponting(c), Rayadu, Pollard, Karthik(wk),Smith, Harbhajan, Coulter-Nile, Munaf,Ojha/Kulkarni