Desperate Delhi take on rampaging Mumbai (Preview)

The good news for Delhi is that their next three matches are away games. With their dismal record at home and the fact that they have to win each and every game to keep themselves in the hunt for a spot in the last four, the away games would be comforting. Mumbai, on the other hand are currently reining the league standings and have more or less secured the coveted place.

The home team have been like a well-oiled machine finishing off whoever has come in their way. Most people in that team have well defined roles and the players have followed the plans like soldiers on a mission. Their batting story has followed a similar script; Sachin Tendulkar lends some stability at the top followed by the ‘busy’ Ambati Rayudu. Rohit Sharma and Andrew Symonds prepare the platform for ‘launcher gun’ Kieron Pollard. A few shots in the crowd and Mumbai get a total more than acceptable to their bowlers.

‘Slinger’ Lasith Malinga has been the best bowler on display in the whole tournament by some distance. Two bowlers from the World Cup winning team, Harbhajan Singh and Munaf Patel have added fire power to the Mumbai bowling. And their fielding has been top-notch; the work of Coach Jonty Rhodes is showing on the field, even somebody like Munaf Patel is throwing himself around.

If Mumbai are like a war-machine, Delhi are a one man army. It looks like Virender Sehwag has taken it upon himself to see through his side to the next stage. His batting effort in the last match against Hyderabad would definitely go down as one of the finest knocks in the history of IPL. The fact that it came during a chase under tremendous pressure, when his team was staring down the barrel makes the century even more special. He more than deserved the ‘Orange Cap’.

Delhi have no choice but to keep winning, Sehwag also has no choice but to keep hitting. But, the job this time around would be difficult, Mumbai have Malinga and they don’t drop too many catches. Sehwag for sure is Delhi’s savior but the other members in the team have to play the supporting role. As of now, that doesn’t seem to be happening, the bowlers are leaking too many runs, the fielders are dropping dollies and other batsmen are contributing too little too late.

It remains to be seen if Sehwag can once again keep Delhi afloat and how one of the best bowling attacks in the IPL fare against the marauder.

MUMBAI

Players who can make impact…

Harbhajan Singh…He would surely know about Sehwag having played alongside him for many years now. That experience would come handy if the Delhi skipper manages to get other bowlers away. It should be a good contest between two players who know each other’s game so well.

Lasith Malinga…He would have to be on top of his game to get through Sehwag’s defences particularly when his bat is looking wide after that thunderous century. The good thing for him is that he has got a struggling line-up to bowl at if Viru is not there.

SQUAD

Abu Nechim , Aditya Tare (wk), Aiden Blizzard, Ali Murtaza, Ambati Rayudu, Andrew Symonds, Davy Jacobs, Dhawal Kulkarni, Harbhajan Singh, James Franklin, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Moises Henriques, Munaf Patel, Pawan Suyal, Rajagopal Sathish, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar (c), Santosh Yadav, Sarul Kanwar, Tirumalsetti Suman, Yuzvendra Chahal

DELHI

Players who can make impact…

Virender Sehwag….The ‘Nawab of Najafgarh’ has certainly donned the role of Messiah for Delhi. His fans would be hoping that the law of averages doesn’t catch-up with him and Mumbai be his next victims.

Irfan Pathan…His batting and bowling performances haven’t been stellar but he has got another opportunity to justify the huge price tag.

SQUAD

Aaron Finch, Aavishkar Salvi , Ajit Agarkar, Ajit Chandila, Andrew McDonald , Ashok Dinda , Colin Ingram, David Warner, Irfan Pathan, James Hopes, Matthew Wade (wk), Morne Morkel, Naman Ojha (wk), Prashant Naik, Rajesh Pawar, Robert Frylinck,Robin Bist, Roelof van der Merwe, Shahbaz Nadeem , Sridharan Sriram , Tejashwi Yadav, Travis Birt, Umesh Yadav, Unmukt Chand, Varun Aaron, Venugopal Rao, Vikas Mishra, Virender Sehwag(c), Vivek Yadav, Yogesh Nagar.