Plot:

7 games, 6 wins, 1 loss! The only thing singular in our campaign is the sole loss we suffered in our very first game of the season. However, we can safely say that we have played very well in the first half of the league stage in this season of the Indian Premier League. We are sitting on top of the points table with 12 points and have more wins than any other team. After round 1 against all the teams, we have beaten all but one – Rising Pune Supergiant.

Our neighbours will be visiting the Wankhede Stadium, where we haven’t lost a game this year. it is our fortress where we have come out of sticky situations to win games. Against Kolkata Knight Riders and most recently, Delhi Daredevils, it didn’t seem like we would emerge as winners. However, our boys, infused with determination and aggression, raised the bar and took the team beyond the line each time.

In our first game of the season, against Pune, we posted a very good total – 184. On a tough ground to bowl on, we failed to defend the total. Pune have had their struggles thereafter, but have risen strongly to win their last two games. The first game we played in 2016 was against Pune, at the Wankhede. We lost the encounter and have a score to settle.

Our batsmen struggled in the last home game against Delhi, who fielded a pace-heavy attack. The pitch wasn’t the easiest to bat on either. This time around, against a bowling attack that has conceded a lot of runs, we would love to score heavily if we end up batting first. Our bowlers though, put their hands up and gave nothing away to the Delhi batsmen, reducing them to barely nothing in the Powerplay.

Pune have sorted out their batting in their last few games. We may have to watch out for their new opening batsman, Rahul Tripathi who has played fearlessly in the Powerplay. They have some in-from batsmen to follow in Manoj Tiwary and MS Dhoni, who finished their last game successfully for Pune against Sunrisers Hyderabad. At the Wankhede though, their batsmen will be tested by some quality bowling. Mitchell Johnson couldn’t pick up a wicket, but he was on the money with his line and length, and even bowled a maiden over. Bumrah and McClenaghan proved to be too hard to get away. We may just have the right headache of choosing the best pace attack yet again if Malinga passes fit.

There are two landmarks that make this Maharashtra Derby a very special one. Firstly, it will be the Golden Jubilee for us, as we will be playing our 50th home game at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Secondly, it’s the 24th of April and a true Mumbai Indians and an Indian cricket fan knows the date by heart. It is Sachin Tendulkar’s birthday, and we will definitely want to gift him a memorable victory.

Stage:

Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai:

The pitch used for our game against Delhi was sluggish and we didn’t spot any dew in the outfield. The lack of dew helped our bowlers to grip the ball and execute the slower ones and cutters easily. If we get back to one of the other pitches, we could see a run-fest once again.

Acts:

Mitchell McClenaghan vs Steven Smith:

A fiery Kiwi will look to unsettle a smart Aussie. Mitchell McClenaghan has bowled 19 balls to Steven Smith in the IPL, and has conceded 35 runs. He is yet to dismiss the Australian captain and it will please him to tick off that box in his IPL career. In our away game against Pune, this year, Smith scored an unbeaten 84 off 54 balls to see his team home. Getting his wicket early will be one of the primary strategies in our think tank.

Jasprit Bumrah vs MS Dhoni:

Ever since Jasprit Bumrah made his debut for the Indian team, and while Dhoni was the captain of the side, MSD relied heavily on the quick to bowl in the death. In this game, we might see one of the best finishers on the other side of his own strategy, against one of the best death bowlers in our country. This should be a mouth-watering contest.

Rohit Sharma vs Imran Tahir:

There has been a lot of talk around Rohit Sharma’s troubles against spin in this season. It all began against Imran Tahir in Pune, during our first game. The decision was a rough one in all honesty, but Rohit will be out there to prove a point against the Protea leggie, who has bowled well in the tournament.

Stats:
⦁    We will be playing our 50th IPL home game at our fortress – the Wankhede Stadium
⦁    Wankhede and our boys will be ready for Sachin Tendulkar’s 44th birthday.
⦁    That one wicket – Bhajji is still searching for his 200th T20 wicket.
⦁    If we win this game, we will enjoy our longest winning streak in the IPL.