Super Kings bowlers will be hard-pressed against the Mumbai Indians' batsmen
Amidst the Indian Premier League's mixed bag of last over finishes and the insinuations about spot-fixing and slanderous nights, irony too has found a place to flourish.
Royal Challengers Bangalore was expected to saunter into the play-offs, however, the men in red and golden shades imploded at Hyderabad. Now the aggrieved team-members, perhaps with a wry smile, will watch their home-turf — Chinnaswamy Stadium — play host to the Eliminator match between defending champion Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians here on Wednesday night. Irony could not have had a louder version!
Destiny's child
The league's recent quixotic results, especially Deccan Chargers' ambush of RCB, have helped CSK find a way back into the last-four stage. Fate's strange ways have also revived an old prefix that tailed M.S. Dhoni's name — ‘destiny's child.' The skipper though leads an outfit that has shed its domineering veneer and the stumble against King's XI Punjab at Dharamshala almost triggered a free-fall until RCB inadvertently lent a helping hand.
CSK's previous visit to Bangalore was spent watching the rain and the forecast hints at a few wet spells though the city has suffered a dry phase over the last two days.
Twin defeats
Squaring up against Mumbai Indians, Dhoni's team will remember its twin defeats against Harbhajan Singh's men in the league stage. History's sobering reminder may well count for nothing in a do-or-die match with the loser crashing out and the winner finding a berth in the second qualifier.
Faf du Plessis (398), Suresh Raina (341) and Dwayne Bravo (305) have clicked for CSK while Dhoni (269) remains a pivotal presence despite the lack of a game-changing innings in the latest edition.
The rest have cobbled together some runs but more needs to be done in a decisive game on a pitch, which has been good to batsmen.
CSK's bowlers though will be hard-pressed against the Mumbai Indians' batsmen with Rohit Sharma (419), Ambati Rayudu (322), Sachin Tendulkar (313) finding adequate backing in recent times from the likes of Kieron Pollard and Dwayne Smith.
Lasith Malinga (22 wickets) is the biggest impact bowler on either side and the way he is countered will also determine Mumbai Indians' progress and CSK's fate.
Combative players
Besides improving his own form, Harbhajan will be well advised to rein in his combative players, who have had many run-ins with rivals and authorities. When Mumbai Indians last played here, a rousing triumph against the host was marred by Rayudu's outburst against Harshal Patel.
It is a trait that could be avoided more so in a season that has seen the IPL churn news of different shades.
The league had commenced at Chennai with Mumbai Indians defeating CSK on April 4.
Life has come a full circle for the two teams and on Wednesday night, only one will be left standing for the remainder of the tournament.
It is a context that can only engineer a cracking contest.
Keywords: IPL 5, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians
I wouldn't be surprised if CSK pull off a win here. Despite Mumbai's class acts in their last few games, they will face the Super Kings who are known to be a very different team when it comes to the playoffs. It will be a thrilling contest to watch and, let the best team win!
All the best to both the teams. Let the deserving team move forward in
the tournament.
Royal Challengers infact have had many opportunities this season but somehow they contrived to lose them, not least of all when they conceded 28 runs to Albie Morkel in that famous last over in Chennai. Infact for a team as talented as Bangalore it shouldn't even come down to the last match for qualification. It just goes to show how tough this year's IPL has been and it has required a bit more than just talent to qualify for the playoffs. Chennai has always been known to grab whatever opportunities come their way much like their skipper M.S.Dhoni and I wouldn't be surprised if they pull a rabbit out of their hat to make it a hatrick of titles.
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