IPL 2018: MI,Delhi desperate to break their losing streak

MI vs DD
Mumbai and Delhi both want nothing but a win to get their first points of the tournament. Image Source: twitter

XtraTime Web Desk: Defending champions Mumbai Indians and Delhi Daredevils both will be looking forward to register their first win in the Indian Premier League when the two teams will lock horns against each other at the Wankhede Stadium tomorrow. Mumbai lost their last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad in a thriller by just 1 wicket; on the other hand Gautam Gambhir & Co. lost first two games against Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals. Mumbai has been regarded as one of the best batting sides comprising with skipper Rohit Sharma, West Indians Elvin Lewis, Kieron Pollard and Suryakumar Yadav, but they all failed in the first two games.

The host will be looking forward at their skipper Rohit Sharma who fell cheaply in both the games to perform well against Delhi. Rohit’s form is crucial for the home side and his partner Lewis too is not performing that well and MI need a big opening partnership from them.

Mumbai may use Krunal Pandya up the order if his brother Hardik who didn’t take part in last game after an injury again misses the next game tomorrow.

On the plus side for MI, Yadav has been among runs and his role will be a key element for the team, especially if the team loses early wickets. In both the games MI lacked big partnerships.

Among the bowlers, rookie leg-spinner Mayank Markande has been brilliant in the two games. His seven wickets, including the four scalps that he captured in a low-scoring tie against Sunrisers at Hyderabad last night, earned him the purple cap.

The Punjab-born wrist spinner has been relying mostly on googlies as his wicket-taking balls and his performance would be key to Mumbai’s success.

Markande, however, has lacked adequate support from the other bowlers, Muztifizur Rehman, Jasprit Bumrah, Pradeep Sangwan and Krunal.

Muztifizur and Bumrah are some of the best death bowlers in the world, but they went for runs and would be keen to do better.

Delhi, on the other hand, also possess top batsmen but they too haven’t been able to perform to their potential till now.

Expectations will be high from local boy Shreyas Iyer, apart from captain Gambhir, Rishabh Pant, Aussie Glenn Maxwell, Englishman Jason Roy and Kiwi Colin Munro.

If they get going they can dismantle any bowling attack and Mumbai’s won’t be an exception. The visitors could also bring in some newcomers in place of laggards.

Delhi bowlers, who have leaked runs aplenty, will also need to step up and strike regular blows to contain Mumbai’s strong batting line-up. The role of spinners, especially leggie Amit Mishra, will be crucial.

The dew factor may not play a significant role as it’s an evening game.

Teams (from):

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma(c), Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Mustafizur Rahman, Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Rahul Chahar, Evin Lewis, Saurabh Tiwary, Ben Cutting, Pradeep Sangwan, Jean-Paul Duminy, Tajinder Singh, Sharad Lumba, Siddhesh Lad, Aditya Tare, Mayank Markande, Akila Dhananjaya, Anukul Roy, Mohsin Khan, MD Nidheesh, Mitchell McClenaghan.

Delhi Daredevils: Shreyas Iyer, Chris Morris, Rishabh Pant, Glenn Maxwell, Gautam Gambhir(c), Jason Roy, Colin Munro, Mohammed Shami, Amit Mishra, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tewatia, Vijay Shankar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Shahbaz Nadeem, Daniel Christian, Jayant Yadav, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Trent Boult, Manjot Kalra, Abhishek Sharma, Sandeep Lamichhane, Naman Ojha, Sayan Ghosh, Liam Plunkett.