Mumbai Indians will play their home game against the Deccan Chargers in the 33rd game of the DLF IPL at Brabourne Stadium.

The hosts have won six out of their seven games and need a couple more wins in their last seven matches to get to the semi-finals, while Chargers need to go on a winning-spree from here to harbour hopes of getting through to the semis. Mumbai go in as favourites after being at the top of the table, 4/6 at Blue Square, as compared to Deccan’s 7/5 (Totesport)

Despite their wins, Mumbai Indians have to iron out some of their chinks, and the one big conundrum that they face is with the selection of Kieron Pollard (8/1 at Ladbrokes to top-score for his side). Pollard is a big ticket player, but has barely managed to get a run in the tournament. Sachin Tendulkar (15/8 at Blue Square to be the best batsman for Mumbai) will need to take the decision on whether or not to bench him pretty soon, before the lack of runs makes a more lasting effect on the batsman.

With Abhishek Nayar (14/1 at Bet365) in the ranks, and as is JP Duminy (5/1 at Bet365, both, to top-score for their side), the time may just be right to give Pollard a break in the game.

The Chargers have a problem or two of their own. Adam Gilchrist’s (5/2 at Coral to top-score for the Chargers) form at the top of the innings is worrying, and without his runs, the lack of penetration with the likes of Venugopal Rao (16/1 at Bet365) and T Suman (12/1 at Bet365 to top-score for his side) down the order, is more accentuated. Andrew Symonds (9/2 at Blue Square to be the best for the Chargers) tried his best in the previous game against the Knight Riders, but on a pitch that helped the slowed bowlers, life became difficult for him.

The time could just be right to send Rohit Sharma (5/1 at Ladbrokes to top-score for his side) up the order and get things moving, given that he has had a couple of good knocks in the past. Sharma has played most of his cricket in Mumbai at the domestic level and could send the ball scurrying.

Tips:
Favourites: Deccan Chargers (7/5 at Totesport)
Top Deccan batsman: Rohit Sharma (5/1 at Ladbrokes)
Top Mumbai batsman: Sachin Tendulkar (15/8 at Blue Square)