Follow UsMumbai Indians (MI) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have produced many memorable matches in the past and this one promises to be a cracking one as well. For RCB, it will be about winning three in a row, but for the five-time champions MI, it will be another bid to try and get off the mark this season.
MI would want to work on their death bowling, which has cost them severely this season thus far. Former India batter WV Raman suggests a couple of changes MI can make for the tie, one of which is roping in fast bowler Jaydev Unadkat.
“They will probably bring in [Jaydev] Unadkat for [Tymal] Mills. Unadkat can bring in a lot of variations, which is very important when you are up against any good side, especially a side that boasts of big hitters like Dinesh Karthik, Maxwell, Virat Kohli,” Raman said on Cricket.com.
“The RCB batting line-up is really formidable. So, you need somebody who can really mix it up a lot. They have favoured having a left-arm seamer which is an apple for apple change.
“Unadkat is also one who is good when it comes to putting the skates on the batters. He has developed over a period of time. I would also see if I can bring in another leg-spinner – [Mayank] Markande - he is been good too.
“We have seen the impact leg-spinners have had in the T20 format and also in the other white-ball format. That's another tempting thing for me for the game against RCB. We saw how [Wanindu] Hasaranga performed against KKR. So, leg-spinners definitely have the ability to make an impact.
Speaking of MI's tumultuous beginning to the season, Raman says they have been successful over the years as they know how to manage a season.
“They have as many times for the simple reason that they know how to manage a season. They are aware of the fact that in an IPL season there a lot of highs and lows so you got to try and keep at it,” Raman said.
“That's where MI have an edge over others because they have managed everything in all these years and been successful too. So, this is how they are going to keep themselves motivated. The fact that they've not done as well as they can really spur them up and kindle the fire in their bellies.”
After an unbeaten 41 in the first game against Punjab Kings (PBKS), Kohli has managed just 12 and five in his next two outings. Raman, who has scored 448 Test runs and 617 ODI runs for India, reckons Kohli needs to charge down the track more often rather than going across the wickets.
“I would only tell him to come straight down the track because he is perhaps a going a little bit far across than he needs to,” Raman said.
“That's perhaps the reason he is not playing as well as he could when it comes to the incoming deliveries. If he focuses on going down the track rather than going across the stumps, he'll definitely get a lot of runs once again.
“One little movement he has to do and if he works it out, I'm sure fans are in for some great entertainment from the master batsman.”
Raman also added that he is looking forward to the contest between Rohit Sharma and RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj on the field.
“I will be very keen to watch Siraj vs Rohit. These guys know each other very well but in a match scenario it's very different,” Raman, the former India Women head coach said.
“Siraj is playing for a side that has good momentum. Rohit has got a little bit of pressure to handle because his side is not doing as well as it can.
“Also the fact that he has got to be the star performer for them means the added pressure can bring out the best in him. Siraj has this habit of giving the lip at times. If he does that it can make things interesting.”
Despite going wicketless in the first two matches, MI persisted with Daniel Sams in their third game against Kolkata Knight (KKR). The result? Pat Cummins smashed him for 35 runs in an over to reduce MI to their third successive defeat of the season.
Raman agrees with the decision to stick with Sams for the KKR game as it would make the bowlers insecure, which could backfire.
“You can't be really chopping and changing the bowlers, they need confidence. What it does is that if you do it to one particular bowler it also passes the message on to the other bowlers too,” Raman said.
If you're bowling unit is going to be made insecure, then the season is going to be a really tough one for the captain and the management. I think that's why they persisted with him.