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The momentum is with Super Kings

S. Dinakar

Mumbai Indians likely to miss Tendulkar’s services again

— Photo: K. Pichumani

VITAL COGS: Chennai Super Kings will look to Matthew Hayden and Muttiah Muralitharan to turn things in its favour against Mumbai Indians.

CHENNAI: Twenty20 cricket enters a bastion of traditionalism. Will the format be welcomed?

Chennai Super Kings meets Mumbai Indians in a crucial Indian Premier League game at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium on Wednesday. The action could be gripping under the lights.

However, Sachin Tendulkar, for whom Chepauk is a home away from home, is a doubtful starter for the Mumbai side. The maestro, nursing a groin strain, was not a part of the pre-match training session in the evening.

“It is a long tournament and we do not want to rush him (Tendulkar),” said the side’s senior cricketer Shaun Pollock. The physio will have the final say.

The heat will be on Mumbai Indians, which lost its opening home game to Royal Challengers Bangalore, on a summer night here. Super Kings, with an away victory at Mohali, has a win and some momentum.

Hard surface

The surface for the game appears hard. There could be some bounce for the bowlers and also encourage stroke-play. The outfield should be fast and runs should flow.

Super Kings has the batting firepower. Matthew Hayden can dismantle attacks at the top of the order.

The host batting poses a problem of a left-handed variety to the Mumbai Indians. Five of the expected top six — Hayden, Parthiv Patel, Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina and Jacob Oram — are all southpaws.

How would the Mumbai Indians counter an array of left-handers? The incoming ball is the stock delivery in the Twenty20 variety but such a ball could well provide width to a left-hander. The away-going delivery to the right-hander would be on the southpaw’s pads.

Perhaps, Shaun Pollock & Co. would attempt to cramp the batsmen from round the wicket. How the bowlers use the crease and the angles could influence the course of play.

The crafty Pollock operating against the in-form Hussey would be an interesting duel where cricketing intelligence would not be in short supply. Hussey can find the open spaces off either foot, can place and strike with finesse. Pollock has the variety and the change of pace to upset Hussey’s plans.

Mumbai Indians’s problems do not end with left-handers. Dhoni’s big-hitting prowess can hugely impact games, S. Badrinath’s ability to innovate is under-rated.

Super Kings, too, has areas of concern. Its pace bowling lacks experience and incision. Too much hinges on Muttiah Muralitharan’s off-spin. There is a possibility of the side fielding a second spinner in off-spinning all-rounder R. Ashwin.

Murali vs. Jayasuriya

Muralitharan versus Sanath Jayasuriya would be another engrossing contest. Remember Murali, unlike most off-spinners, is less comfortable bowling at left-handers.

The addition of Dwayne Bravo brings value to the Mumbai line-up. The fluent stroke-maker should find a place in the top three slots. Bravo’s handy yorker, variations of speed and swing would enhance the attack.

Mumbai Indians has an edge in bowling. Harbhajan Singh is a fine off-spinner in this format with his fuller length and changes in trajectory. He can bowl in the end overs.

The teams (from): Chennai Super Kings: M.S. Dhoni (Capt.), M. Hayden, P. Patel, M. Hussey, S. Raina, J. Oram, S. Badrinath, J. Sharma, P. Amarnath, M. Goni, R. Ashwin, S. Fleming, S. Anirudha, S. Vidyut, K.B. Arun Karthick and Shadab Jakati.

Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar (Capt.), S. Jayasuriya, L. Ronchi, D. Thornely, R. Uthappa, D. Bravo, P. Shah, S. Pollock, A. Nayar, D. Kulkarni, Harbhajan Singh, A. Nehra, S. Tiwary, A. Rahane, A. Chavan and G. Dhiman.

Umpires: Daryl Harper & G.A. Pratap Kumar; Third umpire: B. Bowden; Match Referee: F. Engineer.

Match starts at 8 p.m.

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