The Chennai Super Kings will hope that the heat of Chennai will make it difficult for the visitors Mumbai Indians when the two sides meet on Tuesday for the 37th game of the IPL.
Mumbai Indians have continued their winning march and now are almost through to the semi-finals; having won their seventh game against Chargers. In fact, such is Mumbai Indians’ (8/11 at Blue Square) consistency that not only do they go into the match as favourites, but also rather strong ones at that against a side which has won two successive games. Boylesports offers 6/5 for the Super Kings to make it a hat-trick of wins.
While Sachin Tendulkar (2/1 at Stan James to top-score for Mumbai) has been the form player of the tournament for the Mumbai Indians, he hasn’t converted his starts into fifties in the last couple of games. When in a good run of form, rarely does Tendulkar not make it count, which means that one can expect a biggie from him. But, it is the other ‘biggie’, Kieron Pollard (8/1 at Boylesports to be the best batsman) who could bother the opposition bowler after having regained some of his big-hitting in the tournament.
However, my eyes will be on Saurabh Tiwary (5/1 at Boylesports to top-score for his side) who seems to have come of age in the IPL this season and with his Yuvraj-like swagger, would be a batsman to watch out for on a pitch that should be shorn of any grass.
Chennai, on the other hand, have not had much help from Mathew Hayden (3/1 at Ladbrokes to top-score for Chennai) at the top of the order. But, at the other end, Murali Vijay (3/1 at Boylesports to top-score for Chennai) has played two of the most sizzling knocks so far in the tournament that have brought him much accolades. His straight-batted hitting and orthodox shots have made him the batsman to watch out for, on a surface that suits his style. With Albie Morkel (12/1 at Ladbrokes to be the best batsman for his side) back amongst runs, and MS Dhoni (5/1 at Ladbrokes to top-score for his side) having had a couple of relatively lower scores, it could be a clamour to get batting higher up the order.
Tips:
Favourites: Chennai Super Kings (6/5 at Boylesports)
Top Chennai batsman: MS Dhoni (5/1 at Ladbrokes)
Top Mumbai batsman: Saurabh Tiwary (5/1 at Boylesports)