Defending Champs favourties against injury-hit Mumbai (Preview)

For Mumbai Indians, the build up to the Champions League hasn’t been refreshing by any stretch of imagination. As many as eight players-including skipper Sachin Tendulkar and regulars Rohit Sharma and Munaf Patel- have been injured putting their preparations into disarray. So much so, injury-ravaged side has been given an amnesty in terms of number of foreign players that can field per match in the tournament. Thanks to the concession, Mumbai can play five foreigners: one more than regulated number.

All that will be forgotten when Mumbai take field in their opening game against defending champions Chennai at their home station, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk. Sachin’s absence had made Harbhajan Singh an automatic choice to take reigns and Indian off-spinner will be in the thick of scrutiny. The Mumbai skipper had a torrid England tour hardly making an impression and he will be upbeat to silent his critics that have grown in number over the last four months or so.

Bhajji’s real challenge will be to get best out of his charges-youngsters in particular. Injuries yes, but, he has still some quality players at his disposal. Andrew Symonds and Kieran Pollard can dent any opposition’s hopes with the bat and in the field. Mumbai team management will be looking up the duo to give them a winning start. Besides Ambati Rayudu, who had a productive IPL earlier this year, is the only real talent among the local players the team can back upon.

It is the lack of options in the fast bowling that should concern Mumbai the most. There is hardly any experience in the lineup. Sri Lankan Dilhara Fernando will have to lead the pack and mentor young fast bowler like Abu Nechim.All said and done, the team has tough job at hands in the opener having to face IPL reigning champions Chennai. MS Dhoni led Chennai is by far the most settled side among the four IPL teams participating in the tournament. Unlike other teams, the core group remains the same and that should give them edge over Mumbai.

Their batting is full of twenty-20 stars. Michael Hussey and Murali Vijay make a dangerous opening pair. Vijay attacks upfront, and, Hussey anchors the innings before going for the big shots. The left handed Suresh Raina loves the format and will be rearing to score big. Dhoni provides calmness to the proceedings and all-rounder Albie Morkel unleashes big power hitting in the end overs.

On a spin assisting Chepauk surface, Chennai, as they have done in the IPL, will be expected to be heavily loaded with spinners. R Ashwin and Shadab Jakati are first choice spinners and left arm fast bowler Doug Bollinger is an able pace option.

Predicting a Chennai win is a profitable bet. Mumbai, though, would hope their gun players Pollard and Symonds come to the party to script an upset.

Chennai: S Badrinath, Doug Bollinger, R Ashwin, MS Dhoni (c)(Wk), Shadab Jakati, Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina, Albie Morkel, Wriddhiman Saha, Suraj Randiv, S Anirudha, Dwayne Bravo, Scott Styris, M Vijay, Nuwan Kulasekera.

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 Chah