Mumbai take on formidable SRH

Mumbai: After pulling off a stunning run chase against Kolkata Knight Riders, Mumbai Indians are high on confidence as they run into defending champion Sunrisers Hyderabad in their third IPL match here on Wednesday.

The team, led by Rohit Sharma, are no stranger to sluggish starts in the IPL, and would be keen on proving that their thrilling four-wicket win over KKR wasn’t a one-off.

The impressive chase underlined Mumbai’s depth in batting as it was fashioned by the lesser-known Nitish Rana in the company of Hardik Pandya after the likes of Sharma and Kieron Pollard had failed to fire.

Sunrisers will pose a strong challenge as they are coming with back-to-back victories. Sunrisers’ leg-spinner Rashid Khan is on a roll. The Afghanistan cricketer has hoodwinked rivals with his clever variations. Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are capable of exploiting the Wankhede pitch that offers bounce. Sunrisers will be boosted by the arrival of Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman who is available for the game.

“He’s reaching this evening (Tuesday). He will be fit and available and he is in our consideration for final eleven,” said Sunrisers coach Tom Moody.

Veteran Nehra, who played a key role in Hyderabad’s title triumph last season, said the process of learning never ends for him. “It’s been a long journey for me in IPL. I have played for four-five different franchisees and I am eager to learn wherever I go,” he said.

Nehra also said that bowling yorkers in death overs was not easy. “Some people think it’s easy to run and bowl a yorker. If it’s in my hands, I would bowl six in an over. It is not that easy. You have to mentally strong to bowl well in the death,” he said.   

Mumbai haven’t used Hardik much as a bowler and it highlights their ample options. His brother and left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya has been impressive. These bowling options give Mumbai Indians the luxury to use an extra batsman like they did in the first game.