MUMBAI: Frustrated Royal Challengers Bangalore will be under immense pressure to put up a cohesive performance against equally struggling Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League match here on Thursday.
Four defeats in five matches have not only proved how bad RCB were in the last IPL auction, but they have also missed a chance to improve it by performing better on the field.
However, there is not much to separate the two teams as RCB are placed ninth, just one run below MI in the points table and MI have won only one of their four matches so far (29-run win over Delhi Capitals) .
Despite the brilliance of Virat Kohli, RCB's campaign is in danger even before they can register enough wins to reach the knockouts.
With the halfway stage of the ongoing IPL fast approaching, it has become necessary for RCB's foreign stars including captain Faf du Plessis (109 runs), Glenn Maxwell (32) and Cameron Green (68) to find form.Kohli's tremendous form - 316 runs at a strike rate of 146.29 with one century and two half-centuries - has been the only bright spot for RCB.
With memories of his 50th ODI century in the World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium just five months ago still fresh, Kohli will be keen to shine again at the same venue on Thursday.
If a part-timer is at the top of the wicket-taking list, any bowling attack will be left searching for answers. And in the case of RCB, whose bowling was looking weak even before taking the field, Maxwell's four wickets offer neither respite nor reassurance.
But their recent record against MI could give a boost to RCB, who have won four of their last five matches.However, the overall record in 32 matches is tilted in favor of the five-time champions, who have enjoyed 18 wins against RCB's 14.
MI will know that the current circumstances provide them with a good opportunity to build on their recent success and move up the points table after a poor start.
For a team that always starts the IPL with a few defeats, MI knows its tricks. The match against the defending champions Chennai Super Kings against the faltering RCB can give them their second consecutive win and give them some more confidence.
But it will be important for MI not to go too far as they too have some concerns.Even though Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan have set the scoring tempo at the top, the middle-order has failed to maintain the pace, for which captain Hardy Pandya is largely responsible.
It remains to be seen whether the MI fans' anger against Pandya continues when he takes the field, as he got some relief in his last game which was attended by thousands of children instead of regular supporters.
Suryakumar Yadav's comeback amid much attention ended in a damp squib, but the world no. 1 T20 batsman will be keen to step up and score two points.
Romario Shepherd's 32 in one over against Anrich Nortje proved to be the difference against DC here as the visitors managed to cross the 200-run mark despite not looking dangerous enough while chasing the mammoth target of 235. .Teams (from):
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (captain), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Deval Brevis, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Tim David, Shreyas Gopal, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Anshul Kamboj, Kumar Karthikeya, Akash Madhwal, Quena Mafaka Mohammed. Nabi, Shams Mulani, Naman Dheer, Shivalik Sharma, Romario Shepherd Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara, Tilak Verma, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Luke Wood.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (captain), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyyash Prabhudesai, Will Jacques Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar, Vishak Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj. Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Camero Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Sourav Chauhan.Time: 7:30 pm IST.
Four defeats in five matches have not only proved how bad RCB were in the last IPL auction, but they have also missed a chance to improve it by performing better on the field.
However, there is not much to separate the two teams as RCB are placed ninth, just one run below MI in the points table and MI have won only one of their four matches so far (29-run win over Delhi Capitals) .
Despite the brilliance of Virat Kohli, RCB's campaign is in danger even before they can register enough wins to reach the knockouts.
With the halfway stage of the ongoing IPL fast approaching, it has become necessary for RCB's foreign stars including captain Faf du Plessis (109 runs), Glenn Maxwell (32) and Cameron Green (68) to find form.Kohli's tremendous form - 316 runs at a strike rate of 146.29 with one century and two half-centuries - has been the only bright spot for RCB.
With memories of his 50th ODI century in the World Cup semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium just five months ago still fresh, Kohli will be keen to shine again at the same venue on Thursday.
If a part-timer is at the top of the wicket-taking list, any bowling attack will be left searching for answers. And in the case of RCB, whose bowling was looking weak even before taking the field, Maxwell's four wickets offer neither respite nor reassurance.
But their recent record against MI could give a boost to RCB, who have won four of their last five matches.However, the overall record in 32 matches is tilted in favor of the five-time champions, who have enjoyed 18 wins against RCB's 14.
MI will know that the current circumstances provide them with a good opportunity to build on their recent success and move up the points table after a poor start.
For a team that always starts the IPL with a few defeats, MI knows its tricks. The match against the defending champions Chennai Super Kings against the faltering RCB can give them their second consecutive win and give them some more confidence.
But it will be important for MI not to go too far as they too have some concerns.Even though Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan have set the scoring tempo at the top, the middle-order has failed to maintain the pace, for which captain Hardy Pandya is largely responsible.
It remains to be seen whether the MI fans' anger against Pandya continues when he takes the field, as he got some relief in his last game which was attended by thousands of children instead of regular supporters.
Suryakumar Yadav's comeback amid much attention ended in a damp squib, but the world no. 1 T20 batsman will be keen to step up and score two points.
Romario Shepherd's 32 in one over against Anrich Nortje proved to be the difference against DC here as the visitors managed to cross the 200-run mark despite not looking dangerous enough while chasing the mammoth target of 235. .Teams (from):
Mumbai Indians: Hardik Pandya (captain), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Deval Brevis, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Tim David, Shreyas Gopal, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Anshul Kamboj, Kumar Karthikeya, Akash Madhwal, Quena Mafaka Mohammed. Nabi, Shams Mulani, Naman Dheer, Shivalik Sharma, Romario Shepherd Arjun Tendulkar, Nuwan Thushara, Tilak Verma, Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Luke Wood.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Faf du Plessis (captain), Glenn Maxwell, Virat Kohli, Rajat Patidar, Anuj Rawat, Dinesh Karthik, Suyyash Prabhudesai, Will Jacques Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Manoj Bhandage, Mayank Dagar, Vijaykumar, Vishak Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj. Reece Topley, Himanshu Sharma, Rajan Kumar, Camero Green, Alzarri Joseph, Yash Dayal, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, Swapnil Singh, Sourav Chauhan.Time: 7:30 pm IST.
