In the double header, Mumbai Indians will be facing the much-fancied Gujarat Lions in the second match of Saturday in Mumbai.
Gujarat Lions
Led by Suresh Raina, the team has a strong batting line-up with power-hitters, all-rounders and excellent bowlers.
Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum are in sublime form. Finch had scored two consecutive half-centuries and is the current orange cap holder overtaking Faf du Plessis. Brendon McCullum, though he failed in the first match, came back with a blistering knock against Rising Pune Supergiants.
The convincing victories over Kings XI Punjab and Rising Pune Supergiants have boosted the confidence of Gujarat Lions.
Also, with Finch and McCullum at the top followed by Suresh Raina, Dinesh Karthik, Dwayne Bravo and Ravindra Jadeja and the finisher James Faulkner, the Gujarat Lions bat deep.
I think Suresh Raina might not tinker with the winning combination. If at all he wants to change, he might rest Jakati (who was expensive against Rising Pune Supergiants). The four foreign players would remain the same viz. Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Dwayne Bravo and James Faulkner.
It was quite surprising that Suresh Raina rested Ishan Kishan against Rising Pune Supergiants. Ishan Kishan showed fine temperament against the fast bowling of Mitchell Johnson.
The bowling of Gujarat Lions is led by James Faulkner, Dwayne Bravo, Praveen Kumar, Praveen Tambe and Ravindra Jadeja. Dwayne Bravo, who has completed 300 wickets in IPL, is bowling at his best so far, mixing his slower ones and bowling brilliantly at the death. With Ravindra Jadeja not available for this match, Suresh Raina may opt for Dhawal Kulkarni or Jaydev Shah.
My possible playing XI for Gujarat Lions would be
Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina (captain), Dinesh Karthik, Dwayne Bravo, Jamesh Faulkner, Praveen Kumar, Praveen Tambe, Dhawal Kulkarni, Ishan Kishan and Akshdeep Nath.
Mumbai Indians
The defending champions who lost the opening game against the debutants Rising Pune Supergiants won the match against Kolkata Knight Riders.
Led by Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai team has strong batting line-up with some power-hitters, all-rounders and bowlers.
The captain Rohit Sharma who failed in the opening game, played a brilliant knock against KKR. Rohit Sharma may not tinker with his playing XI against Gujarat Lions.
The batting is led by Rohit Sharma, Ambatti Rayudu, Lendl Simmons, Parthiv Patel and Kieron Pollard. Lendl Simmons and Pollard have to fire for Mumbai to have any chance to defend the title.
The bowling is led by Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Tim Southee, R. Vinay Kumar and Corey Anderson. Rohit Sharma selection of four foreign players might be Lendl Simmons, Keiron Pollard, Corey Anderson and Tim Southee.
Mumbai line-up bats deep down the order.
My likely Mumbai playing XI would be
Rohit Sharma (captain), Lendl Simmons, Ambati Rayudu, Parthiv Patel or Shreyas Gopal, Harbhajan Singh, Kieron Pollard, Corey Anderson or Jos Buttler, Tim Southee, Hardik Pandya, R. Vinay Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah
The full squad
Teams (from):
Gujarat Lions: Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina (Capt.), Dwayne Bravo, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Akshdeep Nath, James Faulkner, Praveen Kumar, Shadab Jakati, Praveen Tambe, Paras Dogra, Eklavya Dwivedi, Ishan Kishan, Shivli Kaushik, Dhawal Kulkarni, Sarabjit Ladda, Amit Mishra, Pradeep Sangwan, Jaydev Shah, Umang Sharma, Dwayne Smith, Dale Steyn, Andrew Tye.
Mumbai Indians : Rohit Sharma (Capt.), Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Jos Buttler, Mitchell McClenaghan, Ambati Rayudu, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh, Jagadeesha Suchith, Tim Southee, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Gopal, R Vinay Kumar, Corey Anderson, Unmukht Chand, Marchant de Lange, Siddhesh Lad, Kishore Kamath, Krunal Pandya, Kishore Kamath, Deepak Punia, Nitish Rana, Jitesh Sharma, Nathu Singh, Akshay Wakhare, Lendl Simmons, Lasith Malinga.
