Calypso Challenge for Mumbai (Preview)

Calypso Challenge for Mumbai

On Saturday night, all the odds were stacked against injury ravaged Mumbai with Chennai puncturing their run chase by dismissing seven top order batsmen and having 53 still to score in less than five overs. Much to the shock for home team Chennai fans and jubilation to the Mumbai, the visitors managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. The thrilling was fashioned out by not Lasith Malinga, the bowler, but, surprisingly, Malinga, the batsman. Coming at number eight with plenty  of work to do, the fearsome fast bowler wielded some magic with his willow hitting three sixes and as many fours to see his home through to a confidence building victory.

For a side-hampered by injuries to their eight players in the buildup to the Champions League, to start the tournament with a stunning win bodes well for the IPL in future games. Confidence levels would have gone up, and, all of a sudden, belief that they can win the games despite absence of top Indian players- skipper Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma and Munaf Patel- will be there. The win was massive for it came against defending champions and it snapped Chennai’s eight-match winning streak on their fortress-Chepauk stadium.

Mumbai team management, though, would believe that improvement is needed in all the departments of the game if they harbor any chances of going deep into the tournament. In particular, batsmen need to take responsibility. Mumbai’s two gun players Andrew Symonds and Kieran Pollard failed to deliver and team would want the duo to fire against Trinidad and Tobago. Pollard’s home team, T&T, which he discarded to play for his IPL franchise, would be determined to keep his big hitting under check.

T&T have made it to the main draw by winning back to back games against Ruhuna and Leicestershire in qualifying stages. The West Indian side brings Caribbean calypso to the plate and has played some fantastic cricket in the qualifiers. Their openers Lendl Simmons and Adrian Barath are in red hot form and Sherwin Ganga has also contributed with the bat in the late overs. Darren Bravo and wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin too have showed some good form to give refreshing feel about T&T’s preparations.

What would give T&T edge over Mumbai is the fact that Darren Ganga led side has been staying and played at Hyderabad ever since landing in India. So, they will have a hang of the surface at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium. Having loads of spin options in the ranks makes T&T a dangerous side and Ganga’s know-how of how use them on Indian slow surfaces adds more effectiveness to the setup. Fast bowler Ravi Rampaul has been revelation with his ability to take wickets with the new ball and comeback in the death over to bowl yorkers and changes in pace to deny batsmen luxury of facing one dimensional stuff.

As of now, there is nothing to choose between the two sides but Mumbai with their gun players in the batting lineup hold slight advantage. T&T, as they have shown in the past, are very much capable of scripting another CL t-20 upset over a high profile IPL team.

Mumbai: Abu Nechim, Aiden Blizzard, Ambati Rayudu (wk), Andrew Symonds, Davy Jacobs, Dilhara Fernando, Harbhajan Singh (c), James Franklin, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Rajagopal Sathish, Sarul Kanwar, Tirumalsetti Suman, Yuzvendra Chahal.

Trinidad  and Tobago: Samuel Badree, Adrian Barath, Darren Bravo, Kevon Cooper, Rayad Emrit, Daren Ganga (C), Sherwin Ganga, Shannon Gabriel, Jason Mohammed, Dave Mohammed, Sunil Narine, William Perkins, Denesh Ramdin, Ravindranath Rampaul, Lendl Simmons.