Picking themselves up after the A.B. de Villiers assault, Mumbai Indians bowlers head for more trouble as Kolkata Knight Riders loom ahead like an approaching storm. de Villiers is a freak batsman rivals get nightmares about. Mumbai was unlucky to be at the receiving end and things cannot get worse.
KKR’s batting line-up, on the other hand, is packed with strikers able to tear apart attacks in more conventional ways.
Andre Russell, and his ability to clear the fence with ease, tops the list among those expected to be on show at the Wankhede stadium on Thursday night. The strong West Indian has struck 31 boundaries, 17 sixes in 11 games so far for the visitors, averaging 41 runs in the middle-order.
Russell is one more addition to the list of explosive West Indians stealing the show this season, after Chris Gayle, Dwayne Smith, Kieron Pollard and Lendl Simmons. He adds value to the team as an useful fast bowler and stunning fielder.
Going into the 13th game facing a must-win situation, MI also needs to find a way to restrict Robin Uthappa (325 runs) and captain Gautam Gambhir (288).
The latter has, at his command, a bowling unit capable of achieving the assigned tasks, as seen during victories in last three back-to-back matches.
KKR has a bewildering variety of slow bowlers. Veteran Aussie left-arm spinner Brad Hogg is spot on, leg-spinner Piyush Chawla and off-spinner Sunil Narine come with a track record of turning matches around in four overs. Johan Botha frustrates batsmen with his off-spin, as does Yusuf Pathan with a wicket-to-wicket line.
To support the spinners is a pace attack — guided by Wasim Akram as Team Mentor — among whom Umesh Yadav has nine wickets in 10 games and Russell 11 wickets from 11.
MI bowling, though vastly experienced, has gained limited success in comparison. Lasith Malinga, Harbhajan Singh and Vinay Kumar need to be more assertive, the way they choked Rajasthan Royals’ chase here earlier in the tournament.
Young left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith has repaid the team’s faith by displaying wicket-taking ability (six scalps in nine appearances). MI has two new fast bowling options in Marchant de Lange (SA), a former KKR player tried out in one game, apart from Ben Hilfenhaus (Australia).
Mumbai Indians’ performance has been patchy with its bowlers or batsmen struggling to do justice to reputations. KKR, at the other end, is gaining momentum with each positive result, seven wins in 12 appearances and two points away from regaining top spot.
