Mumbai Indians will be eager to bounce back after their loss against KXIP when they host defending Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. Our last game against Punjab ended in an 8-wicket loss for MI, making Wednesday’s match against CSK the perfect opportunity to make amends. Mumbai will also want to get their first win of the season at home after losing to Delhi Capitals in the previous match at the Wankhede Stadium. Beating CSK though is no mean feat as witnessed in the reigning champions’ first three games of the season. Chennai are on top of the standings and are the only unbeaten team in IPL 2019 having won their first three matches.

Head-to-head record (IPL)

MI 13–11 CSK

Form Guide

Mumbai Indians: L W L

Chennai Super Kings: W W W

From the MI dugout

The boys will be keen to return to the middle and get our season on track with a win at home in front of our vociferous fans. Skipper Rohit Sharma has looked good at the top, but he’ll want to convert the starts that he’s been getting into big scores. The form of the middle order has been under the scanner, but Hardik Pandya has done well with the willow in hand in MI’s last two matches. Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya will also be desperate to make their presence felt and make an impression on the tournament. On the bowling front, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga and Mitchell McClenaghan will be hoping to put in much-improved performances with the ball especially at the start and the death overs.

Key Player

Quinton de Kock was in good touch before the IPL season began and the South African wicketkeeper looks like he’s kicked on with decent performances in MI colours so far. His 60 in the last match was our highest individual score against KXIP and it looked like MI would reach 200 with de Kock in the middle at one stage. However, his dismissal robbed us of our momentum as Punjab grabbed the initiative. The left-handed opener was also involved in two fifty plus partnerships in the last match and will be crucial to MI’s hopes making a good start with the bat. 

From the CSK dugout

The reigning champions have been in terrific form, winning all their games so far. Chennai, as expected, haven’t made too many changes to their title-winning squad from last season. With experienced campaigners like MS Dhoni, Shane Watson, Kedar Jadhav, Suresh Raina, Dwayne Bravo, Ambati Rayudu, Imran Tahir and Ravindra Jadeja; Chennai are a formidable side and one of the favourites to lift the IPL trophy this season.

Key Player

MS Dhoni seems to continue getting better with age. Man of the Match for his game-changing 75 not out against Rajasthan Royals in their last match; dismissing Dhoni before he settles will be key to our chances of victory on Wednesday. Dhoni’s 21^st fifty against Rajasthan in Chennai’s last match has put him 11th on the list for most half-centuries by a player in the IPL.