A sense of déja vu is sure to grip Mumbai Indians when they face Pune Warriors India at the latter’s home ground at the Subrata Roy Sahara Stadium here on Saturday. Placed third in the table in IPL-6, Mumbai Indians were in exactly a similar position here last year and the thrilling one-run win helped them consolidate their third spot in the table.
The visitors begin as overwhelming favourites and the two points will not only strengthen their bid for playoffs but also help them move up to the second spot, should they win with a comfortable margin.
For a second straight season, the hosts have shown little improvement and have lost 11 of their 13 games. They’re just one loss away from equalling the record for most defeats set by them last season and which is also jointly held by Deccan Chargers when they lost 12 games in 2008. If Pune don’t regroup quickly they might even slip further low.
On Thursday, they failed to chase 153 and were bowled out for 106. They have failed to click as a unit and have been slow in realising their problem areas. Rotating captains hasn’t helped their cause either and the team look unsettled.
Despite their poor run this season, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has emerged as a standout performer and has troubled most batsmen. Another bright spark for Pune apart from their captain Aaron Finch, who has hit three half centuries is the Jammu and Kashmir all-rounder Parveez Rassol, who made a decent debut against Kolkata. The young off-spinner will relish the opportunity of bowling to Sachin Tendulkar and would be keen to make an impression.
Tendulkar looked in great touch in Mumbai’s last home match against KKR and his 48 off just 28 helped them register a 65-run win. Dinesh Karthik and Sharma have been scoring consistently and would look to continue in same vein.
The sapping conditions coupled with weaker opposition here may tempt Mumbai to make changes. Million-dollar baby Glen Maxwell, who has been warming the bench ever since the sixth edition began, may get a look in as Mumbai would want their Lasith Malinga and Mitchell Johnson in top condition for their home fixture against Hyderabad on Monday.