Mumbai Indians will host their first game of the IPL 2011 at the Wankhede Stadium when they take on the Kochi Tuskers Kerala on Friday. Mumbai have won two games in two, while Kochi are one of the three teams which have gone winless so far.
Mumbai v Kochi odds:
Given what has transpired in the tournament so far, Mumbai Indians (4/9 at
SkyBet) will go into the game as favourites. The balance in the side is jaw-dropping and after the finals appearance in the previous edition of IPL, the confidence has showed in the way they have played cricket even in this edition of the tournament.
Kochi’s (7/4 at
SkyBet) results show that they have lost both their games in the tournament, but what it does not show is that they have fought really hard. On both occasions, they were edged out narrowly, due to some excellent finishing by their opponents. Mumbai Indians will do well not to treat this game complacently.
Ground and Pitch:
This will be the first game to be played at the Wankhede since the final of the World Cup on April 2. That day, the Indians had chase down a total of more than 270, which should mean that this will be a batting friendly track. The only issue that could hamper a cracking game is the dew, which had made life difficult for the Sri Lankans that fateful World Cup final day as well. As was the case in that game, Muthiah Muralitharan could be a part of this game as well and that should make things interesting.
Player News:
Given their two wins from two matches, the Mumbai Indians should not make any changes to their playing eleven. However, the form of James Franklin (16/1 at
SkyBet) with the ball will be a worry, which will mean that a change could be in the offing. If Andrew Symonds (7/1 at
William Hill) is fit, he will walk into the side directly, but if not, there could be some searching that the team may have to do. There is a chance, in that case, for Moises Henriques (16/1 at
William Hill) to make his Mumbai Indians debut.
Sachin Tendulkar (9/4 at
SkyBet) is clearly the player to watch out for. One, he is yet to be dismissed in the tournament so far, having collected his runs well in the side’s two wins, and two, because he will up against Muthiah Muralitharan yet again.
For the Kochi Tuskers, the top-order has been bit of an up and down story. In their first game against Bangalore, they had done a decent job but failed against Pune. Brendon McCullum (7/2 at
BetFred) may have to attach a bit more premium to his wicket, while VVS Laxman (9/2 at
Coral) needs to hold his end up through at least the first half of the innings.
It was at Wankhede that Mahela Jayawardene (7/2 at
SkyBet) had slammed a half-century in a league game and followed it up with a sublime century in the World Cup final. He has had a couple of off-colour days in the IPL this season and will look to bring out his A game.
Prediction:
Mumbai Indians will be favourites – 4/9 at
SkyBet – to win the game, with Ravindra Jadeja (9/2 at
Stan James) to be the most economical bowler.
