After the first week of the IPL, it emerged as if the Rajasthan Royals couldn’t make a misstep. Twice they shot targets over 200, including a successful chase with a U-limit players record leaving a solid mark. However, back-to-back losses have sent them back to the ground and exposed the cracks surrounding their mid-order hitting, when faced with quality bowling. Without the small limits of Sharjah’s cricket ground, the Royals have struggled to put up a solid total, going from a high of 200 consecutive scores to totals of 137 and 158.
READ| MI vs RR: Rohit Sharma about to beat Suresh Raina’s incredible record
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians are skyrocketing thanks to back-to-back wins, by margins of 48 and 34 runs respectively, which are pretty complete in T20 cricket. It’s almost like MI can’t take a wrong step. They score heavily in death overs, but their players drown the opposition in the last five, as shown against Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad. His only concern at the top, Quinton de Kock, fired at the right moment, allowing the side to tick more boxes along the way.
Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith are two of the best hitters in the world, but their IPL record couldn’t be more contrasting. While IM seems composed in his lineup, there must be some concerns for Smith, especially if his decision to open the innings is current when it comes to team balance. Maybe it’s time for Smith to rank at 4 and allow a struggling Robin Uthappa a chance to get on top?
In the last five meetings between these two teams, the Royals have enjoyed a 4-1 record against the four-time IPL champions. But under the current form, IMs are strong contenders to stop the RR monster against them.
What: Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals, IPL 2020, Match 20
When: Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Venue: Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Team news
Mumbai Indians – There was a long shot that Chris Lynn could finally play his first game of the season with De Kock’s fight at the top, but South Africa regained form with a 67-of-39 hit to secure his spot in the top. Expect Rohit to field an unchanged XI in an attempt to record a hat-trick of victories
Likely XI: 1 Rohit Sharma (Captain), 2 Quinton de Kock (Wicketkeeper), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Ishan Kishan, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Kieron Pollard, 7 Krunal Pandya, 8 James Pattinson, 9 Rahul Chahar, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
Rajasthan Royals: Ben Stokes has joined the Rajasthan Royals squad, but the mandatory six-day quarantine will prevent him from playing on Tuesday. That said, Uthappa’s struggles could pave the way for national veteran Manan Vohra, unless the Royals promote Uthappa to open the entrances. Riyan Parag could be left out after scores of 6, 0, 1 and 16 for Ankit Rajpoot. Jaydev Unadkat, quick with his left arm, has been pretty normal in three games and RR could trade him for pacemaker Varun Aaron or leg shooter Mayank Markande.
Likely XI: 1 Steve Smith, 2 Jos Buttler, 3 Sanju Samson, 4 Manan Vohra / Robin Uthappa, 5 Mahipal Lomror, 6 Ankit Rajpoot, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Jofra Archer, 9 Tom Curran, 10 Shreyas Gopal, 11 Jaydev Unadkat / Varun Aaron
Statistics and trivia –
– Kieron Pollard needs to score 82 to reach 3,000 IPL runs
– The West Indies all-rounder averages 163, the highest by any player in this year’s IPL
– Rohit Sharma needs another 45 runs to become the fifth player to score 500 runs against RR.
– Rohit is also fifty years away from becoming the leading IPL half centurion among Indian players.
– Steve Smith is 3 sixes away from completing 100 sixes in T20
– Jos Buttler is 50 races away from completing 6,000 races in T20
.
