11 May,2017 03:50 PM IST | Mumbai | Noel D'souza
Two-time IPL champions, who take on Kings XI Punjab at Wankhede Stadium tonight, keen to continue shining bright on the points table so that they play Qualifier-I on lucky home turf
Mumbai Indians cricketer Krunal Pandya (centre) celebrates the wicket of Gujarat Lions' all-rounder Irfan Pathan with teammates during the Indian Premier League game at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on April 29. Pic/AFP
They lost their last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Monday, but that didn't seem to hamper the equation for Mumbai Indians (MI), who have already qualified for the play offs of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Now, the mindset in the MI camp is to retain pole position as they face a determined Kings XI Punjab (KXIP), who are in a do-or-die situation at the Wankhede Stadium today.
The equation is pretty simple for sides. MI with 18 points from 12 games, will vie for a top spot in the table while KXIP (12 points from 12 games), will have to win their remaining two matches - against MI today and Rising Pune Supergiant on Sunday. If KXIP grab a win today, then they will have to hope RPS (16 points from 12 matches) and SRH (15 points from 13 matches) drop points in their next games.
For MI, a pole finish means they can play Qualifier 1 (May 16) at home and have two cracks for a spot in the final. MI have also won five out of their six matches at the Wankhede. "The motivation for this match is the opportunity to finish first or second. In that way we can play in front of our home crowd. When we play here, it will give us bit of an advantage. This is all the motivation the team needs right now," MI all-rounder Mitchell McClenaghan said at the pre-match press conference yesterday.
MI are currently fretting on the fitness of Krunal Pandya, who picked up a shoulder niggle during the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clash on May 1. However, the injury doesn't seem to be too serious. "Krunal picked up a slight injury. He is working with the physio (Nitin Patel) for the last couple of days," McCleneghan, who has been the top wicket-taker for MI with 17 wickets, said.
McCleneghan revealed that Englishman Jos Buttler won't be available for the play offs, in keeping with England Cricket Board's deadline of May 14. His replacement, West Indies' Lendl Simmons has been apt to say the least, forming a good opening partnership with Parthiv Patel. "Jos has had a great season for us, but with the record Lendl has got in T20 cricket, we are pretty lucky that someone like him comes in and takes Jos' spot. He will be crucial," he added.
McClenaghan and Malinga, who were steaming in during nets are sure shot entries for Mumbai's last league home game. The batsmen too seem to be in a positive space with Rohit and Parthiv sending the white ball into the stands on a few occasions yesterday.
