IPL 2019, Match 44: CSK vs MI – 3 moves that could help MI do the double! 

The El Clasico of IPL. The rivalry of rivalries. The Clash of Titans. It’s match no.44 of the IPL and it’s between two teams that have always found a way to outsmart one another. The Head-to-Head statistics lean marginally towards the Mumbai Indians, but the Chennai Super Kings aren’t far behind. It’s this fierce competition of one-upmanship that makes it one of the most watched IPL matches season after season.  

Head-to-Head Statistics in T20

Overall: MI: 15, CSK: 12

At Chepauk: MI: 4, CSK: 2

This year, CSK started their campaign with a 3-match winning spree until MI came along and hammered them at Wankhede. Quite interestingly, Mumbai is one of the few teams that have been able to beat CSK more than once in the tournament. In 2015, both teams met as many as 4 times and Mumbai won 3 of them! Though the year before that, Chennai completely outplayed Mumbai by winning all their encounters. 

In the reverse fixture at Chepauk, CSK would now be hoping to secure their playoffs position with a revenge victory against MI. As for Mumbai, a few smart moves could help them complete a double against the strongest team in the IPL and establish some solidity in the Top 4. 

The Opening Conundrum 

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma made it loud and clear ahead of the tournament that he would be opening the batting in all matches. However, the captain’s poor string of scores from last season has continued and that hasn’t helped Mumbai’s cause. Suryakumar Yadav, who was MI’s designated opener last year is also struggling to get going at No.3. That Quinton de Kock is batting in a zone of his own has been the only saving grace so far for Mumbai at the top. Going into the business end of the tournament, MI could look at giving Surya the license to kill in the Powerplay. Rohit batting down the order will automatically make the middle-order a lot stronger.  

Suryakumar Yadav in IPL 2018

Matches: 14

Runs: 512

Strike Rate: 133.33

Fifties: 4

The Spin Effect 

They may be a bunch of 30-somethings, but they know exactly how to take advantage of home conditions. But their opponents still haven’t figured a way to do the same. Barring Rashid Khan and Imran’s Tahir off day in the last match, the Chennai pitch has predominantly been a spinner’s paradise. Ask Harbhajan Singh and he’ll lick his lips at the prospect of bowling on a dust bowl. Fortunately, Mumbai has a couple of impressive spin bowlers who can change the game. Leggie Rahul Chahar has already proved to be a threat in his last two outings, especially bowling inside the Powerplay. Considering the Chennai openers’ difficulty against spin bowling, it wouldn’t hurt Mumbai to start with a spinner, preferably Chahar. Or someone who’s not Hardik Pandya.  

We’ll have a Pollard side up, please 

Far too often, Mumbai Indians have left too much to do too late when it comes to their batting. A destructive batsman like Kieron Pollard should be making an impact as early as possible in the innings. He was indeed sent up the order in the last match against Rajasthan Royals, but it needs to be done more often. A promoted Pollard can propel MI to a different level and immediately put pressure on the bowlers even before the death overs begin. 10 years of Pollard at MI – surely, he’s got to be more than just a pinch-hitter!  

Left-arm pace served hot 

An all-rounder like Ben Cutting batting so deep down the order and almost never bowling more than a couple of overs looks like a waste of a spot in that star-studded Mumbai lineup. Having one fiery left-arm fast bowler is a luxury, having two on the bench is a crime. With the departure of teen sensation Alzarri Joseph, Mumbai could bring in one of Mitchell McClenaghan and Jason Behrendorff to bowl alongside Lasith Malinga. Mitch has been a wicket-taking bowler for 4 seasons now, despite the tendency to leak a few runs. Behrendorff had a great debut but couldn’t conjure up much in the next 4 games. Unless the newly drafted Beuran Hendricks is slotted in straightaway, Mumbai could look at the other two options.