Selection concerns for Mumbai Indians as Sunrisers Hyderabad look to maintain winning run
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Like so often in the recent past, Sunrisers Hyderabad have started the IPL 2019 season as tournament favourites must; they did lose their first match, away against Kolkata Knight Riders, but have won their next three games - two of them at home - comprehensively.
But unlike in previous years, this time it's their batting - specifically the opening pair of David Warner and Jonny Bairstow - that has been the main reason for their success. The two have so far added 118, 110, 185 and 64 for the first wicket, which has firstly not left much for the middle-order batsmen to do and, at the same time, made up for the middle order's failures. Key fact: Sunrisers are yet to lose a wicket in the Powerplay this season.
Their bowling did seem a bit lacklustre in the first two games, but Mohammad Nabi's inclusion has given it a lift. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, too, ended a poor, wicketless run with 2 for 27 against Delhi Capitals in the last game.
Come Saturday, Sunrisers will be facing an upbeat Mumbai Indians, who ended Chennai Super Kings' winning streak with a 37-run win. While two wins and two losses in the first four matches of the season would be an average start for a team, for Mumbai, the perennial slow starters, it might be like a kick-start.
However, with Lasith Malinga having left to play the domestic Super Four Provincial Limited Over Tournament in Sri Lanka, Mumbai will be forced to make changes to their winning combination.
In the news
Kane Williamson has missed three out of the four matches so far because of a niggle. In his absence, Nabi has picked up 4 for 11 against Royal Challengers Bangalore and 2 for 21 against Capitals. Not to forget his unbeaten nine-ball 17, which took Sunrisers over the line against Capitals. Will Sunrisers leave Nabi out if Williamson is fit in time for Saturday's game?
Within 12 hours of taking 3 for 34 against Super Kings in Mumbai, Malinga was leading Galle, where he took 7 for 49 against Kandy in a domestic one-day tournament. With the seamer likely to stay in Sri Lanka till the tournament ends, Mumbai will have to look for an alternative.
Previous meeting
The last time these two sides met, back in April 2018, Mumbai were bowled out for 87 in a chase of 119 as Siddarth Kaul picked up 3 for 23, while Rashid Khan and Basil Thampi chipped in with two wickets each.
Likely XIs
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 1 David Warner, 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3 Vijay Shankar, 4 Yusuf Pathan, 5 Manish Pandey, 6 Deepak Hooda, 7 Mohammad Nabi, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar (capt), 10 Sandeep Sharma, 11 Siddarth Kaul
Mumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Yuvraj Singh/Ishan Kishan, 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 Jason Behrendorff, 9 Rahul Chahar, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Mitchell McClenaghan
Strategy punt
- It could be an interesting battle between Mumbai's top order and Sandeep Sharma. Rohit Sharma has managed just 21 off 28 balls against Sandeep in T20s, while getting out twice to him, and Suryakumar Yadav has managed 17 off 16 with Sandeep getting his wicket twice as well.
- After scoring a 35-ball 53 against Capitals and a 12-ball 23 against Royal Challengers, Yuvraj Singh has struggled. Against Kings XI Punjab, he consumed 22 balls for his 18, while in the last match against Super Kings, he was out for 4 off six balls. Mumbai may ponder replacing him with Ishan Kishan.
Stats that matter
- Manish Pandey's average of 23.31 since IPL 2018 is the worst among those who have faced at least 250 balls. This IPL, he has scored 19 runs from three innings while being dismissed twice.
- Since IPL 2016, when Rohit has faced 20-plus balls, Mumbai have won 79% of the matches. Their win percentage drops to 38 when he is dismissed under 20 balls.
- Jason Behrendorff's economy of 6.5 in all T20s since 2017 is the best for any Mumbai bowler who has bowled at least 40 overs.
- Hardik Pandya has scored only a run-a-ball 77 against legspinners since IPL 2017.