02 April,2022 07:11 AM IST | Navi Mumbai | SS Ramaswamy
Mumbai Indians’ Suyakumar Yadav trains at the Dy Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai yesterday. Pic/MI@instagram
The first afternoon IPL game at the D Y Patil Stadium on Saturday between five-time champions Mumbai Indians and inaugural edition winners Rajasthan Royals is expected to be a keenly fought affair.
Dew fall was a significant factor in the first two evening games here with Royal Challengers Bangalore losing the batsmen-dominated first match to Punjab Kings before prevailing over Kolkata Knight Riders in a low-scoring thriller.
In both matches the team chasing the target won, but the script could change when MI take on 2008 champions RR with the dew factor likely to impact the outcome to a lesser degree.
MI, who lost their lung opener to Delhi Capitals as they have done so often in the last few years, would be keen to clinch victory against a side that are led by explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson. He was in a punishing mood and stroked his way to a quick-fire half century (55 off 27 balls, 5x6, 3x4) when RR opened their campaign at Pune against 2016 champions Sunrisers Hyderabad. The MI think tank would certainly have made plans to stop the Kerala-born Samson from doing an encore against their bowlers. However, Rohit Sharma and his men would be ill-advised to concentrate only on Samson.
There are other stroke-makers in England's Jos Buttler, West Indian Shimron Hetmyer and Devdutt Padikkal to think about from the RR ranks. They have a well-balanced attack too with Trent Boult, who was so good for MI till last season, but was not retained ahead of the auction, and the fast-improving Prasidh Krishna to bowl at the beginning and in later stages. R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal are a handy spin combo to tackle the middle overs.
MI are strengthened by Suryakumar Yadav's return to fitness from a finger injury that saw him miss the game against Delhi Capitals.
Zaheer Khan, MI's Director of Cricket Operations, was upbeat about this development. "Suryakumar Yadav is a retained player and has been a key member of this side and we are all eagerly waiting for him to take the field," said the former India pacer.
"In terms of his availability for the next game, yes, he is," Zaheer added. Surya has been a vital member of the MI core with his consistent displays with the bat. Bought in the mega auction of 2018, he has scored over 300 runs each season, going past 400 twice and 500 once. Although he has batted at all positions from one to six, he has made the No.3 spot his speciality, logging in over 1,000 runs at one-down.
MI would be keen that he hits the ground running. With Surya in, the playing XI looks formidable with skipper Rohit Sharma at the top and the powerful Pollard ready to take care of the last phase of the innings. The immediate good form of wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan, who was retained by MI for a whopping Rs15.25 crore, was also a welcome sign for the 2020 title winners.
Kishan, who opened with Rohit and blasted his way to 81 in 41 balls against DC, is fully fit to play after having recovered from the toe injury he had sustained in that game, Zaheer informed.
MI have a strong pace bowling combo led by India spearhead Jasprit Bumrah to take advantage of the freshness of the tracks. But they appear a bit weak in the spin department wherein only leggie Murugan Ashwin figured and took two for 14 in their lung opener.
