Match 52: Royal Challengers Bangalore v Mumbai Indians

Venue – Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Head to Head: Royal Challengers Bangalore – 3; Mumbai Indians – 2

Royal Challengers Bangalore

Bangalore is almost through to the semis with a superior run rate but they would like to win their final match against formidable Mumbai to gain some momentum going into the next stage. On the other hand, Bangalore will look to give chance to the likes of Rahul Dravid, Ross Taylor and Kevin Pietersen to play as many overs as possible as they got limited opportunities in the matches so far. Praveen Kumar may get a look in.

Best bet for Royal Challengers Bangalore: Rahul Dravid – 9/10

Kevin Pietersen – 8/10

Anil Kumble – 8/10

Ross Taylor – 8/10

Pankaj Singh – 8/10                                        

Mumbai Indians

Mumbai are sitting comfortably at the top of the table with a semi-final spot already secured. Therefore they would like to sort their combinations out before heading into the knockout stage. Shaiker Dhawan will be back in place of Jayasuria or Chandan Madan, both of whom failed to grab their opportunities. Malinga and Pollard are certainties, so it will be a tossup between Ryan McLaren, Dwayne Bravo and JP Duminy for the remaining two overseas slots. All-rounder Ali Murtaza has done reasonably well in his only chance to give R Satish some headache but will be interesting to see if he gets another chance today.

Best Bet for Mumbai Indians: Sachin Tendulkar – 9/10

Ambati Rayudu – 9/10

Lasitha Malinga – 8/10

Zaheer Khan – 8/10

Harbajan Singh – 8/10

Indian Premier League Teams 2010 Preview – Mumbai Indians

Team: Mumbai Indians

Owner: Mukesh Ambani – Reliance Industries

Bought for: USD 111.9 million

Captain: Sachin Tendulkar

Coach: Robin Singh

Home Ground: Wankhade Stadium & D.Y. Patil Stadium, Mumbai

IPL 2009 Result: Seven

IPL Record: Played – 27, Won –12, Lost – 15, Tie – 1, No Result -0

Build Up:

Mumbai Indians is one team who has fared well below their potential in the first two IPL and will look to put the record straight. Mumbai was unlucky last year to lose out on some of their prominent players to injuries that started with Indian pacer Zaheer Khan. This time too they will keep their fingers crossed over the fitness of Lasith Malinga, Zaheer Khan and Sachin Tendulkar.

It is believed that Mumbai shelled out a whopping US$ 2.25 million in the secret bid to bag West Indian all-rounder Kieron Pollard. His presence will strengthen their inexperienced lower middle-order in addition to pace bowling option. Sachin and Jayasuria are arguably world’s most successful openers in the ODIs, yet there will be a huge concern over the fitness and form of aging Jayasuria who has been in and out of the Sri Lankan team of late.

Watch Out For:

Kieron Pollard – IPL’s costliest player Pollard will be the cynosure of all eyes during the seven – week long tournament. His exploits during the Champions League T20 in October last year will still remain fresh in everyone’s mind and Mumbai will look to benefit from their most expensive player.

Dark Horse:

Sanath Jayasuria – One of World’s most successful all-rounders, most destructive batsman when in prime form and an effective spinner Sanath is 40 but still fighting hard. Mumbai Indian’s captain and good friend of Sanath, Sachin always rated and respected Sanath very high on regard and this IPL will be no different. Jayasuria is likely to open the batting along with Sachin and if the former can bring rediscover his willow power this will set the tone for Mumbai to eye at the title.

The Squad:

Sachin Tendulkar (Captain), Jean-Paul Duminy, Graham Napier, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Sanath Jayasuriya, Dwayne Bravo, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Abhishek Nayar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Saurab Tiwary, Ambati Rayudu, R Shukla, Ryan McLaren, Kieron Pollard, I Malhotra, AG Murtaza, R Satish, KS Sahabuddin, Chandan Madan, AP Tare

Knight Riders Sack Buchanan

Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders, co-owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, has sacked John Buchanan from his position as Director of Cricket Operations with immediate effect. The team’s disastrous season, finishing last this year and at sixth in the inaugural year, in addition to various controversies that surrounded the team before the start of this season led to the decision. Buchanan moves on to a coaching assignment with the England Cricket Board.

Jay Mehta, co-owner of the franchise said, “John Buchanan has informed Knight Riders that despite his hard work over the past two seasons, he has not achieved everything that he set out to and has not been able take the franchise into the future as per his vision for this team. I would like to state that John is a great coach. He had a vision for Knight Riders and did not waver from this vision. Unfortunately, it has not brought the results that are so necessary to this franchise.”

A few names doing the rounds as a possible replacement are Dav Whatmore, Steve Waugh, Michael Bevan and Lalchand Rajput. Whatmore, who is currently working with BCCI’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore, is believed to be a strong contender for the job given his track record in the sub-continent. Former Australian batsman Michael Bevan is said to have been approached by Mumbai Indians as well. Bevan, who coached Chennai Superstars in Indian Cricket League (ICL), said, “At this stage, it is very early in the process. It’s been a bit of sounding out to see if there’s interest from both parties. I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment on the teams concerned, but as far as I am aware these are head coaching roles. That obviously means different things in different teams but the extent of the roles in question I believe are quite senior.”

However Steve Waugh, who is in India to launch the India chapter of Steve Waugh foundation Global, has said that he has no plans to coach Kolkata Knight Riders at the moment. “Twenty20 is an exciting format. It’s surely captured people’s imagination. But coaching wise I’m not so sure. It’s not my priority yet. I don’t know about the future but at the moment I am certainly not doing it as I have no time,” he said.

On the other hand there is no confirmation about the fate of other support staff, which includes Matthew Mott (assistant head coach), Andy Bichel (bowling coach), Wade Seccombe (wicket-keeping coach), John Deeble (fielding coach), Brad Murphy (assistant coach), Buchanan’s son Michael Buchanan (strength trainer), Andrew Leipus (physio) and Adrian Le Roux (trainer). But media reports have claimed that Andrew Leipus and Adrian Le Roux, who have worked with the Indian team, are likely to be retained.

Delhi Daredevils vs. Mumbai Indians

Topping the stack in the group stage, this is a practice match for the Delhi Daredevils as they prepare for the business end of the tournament. Inversely, and despite featuring the deepest pockets in the Indian Premier League, the Mumbai Indians are playing simply for pride following a dismal performance in IPL 2009. It’s hard to predict the dynamics of this dead-rubber, but you can bet both sides will be in it to win it.

IPL odds supplied courtesy of Canbet.com. New members receive a £25 Cricket Free Bet.

IPL match preview:

Delhi Daredevils

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 13, Won – 9, Lost – 4

Delhi was surprisingly outplayed by Royal Challengers Bangalore in their last game. However, as the top performing team in IPL 2009 so far, the only concern for Delhi will be the poor opening partnerships produced throughout the tournament. To be their devilish best in the knockout phase, they will need better starts so that the likes of Dilshan, DeVillers and Karthik can maximise the score rather than reconstructing the innings.

Best Bet for Delhi Daredevils:

AB DeVillers – 9/10
Gautam Gambhir- 9/10
Daniel Vettori – 8/10
T Dilshan – 8/10
Virender Sehwag -8/10

Mumbai Indians

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 13, Won – 5, Lost – 7, N/R – 1

Mumbai is out of the tournament, but will no doubt like to finish the season on a high. Zaheer Khan is unlikely to play due to injury concerns, as may be the case with Harbajan Singh. They will also miss the services of Dwayne Bravo who has departed to play for the West Indies against England.

Best Bet for Mumbai Indians:

Sanath Jayasuria – 9/10
JP Duminy – 8/10
Sachin Tendulkar – 8/10
Abhishek Kumar – 8/10
Ajinka Rahane – 7/10

Super Kings vs. Mumbai Indians

Only victory will suffice for an out of sorts Mumbai Indians outfit when they take on the Chennai Super Kings in Port Elizabeth. The Indians have a mountain to climb if they are to advance to the semis, while the Super Kings will looking to make their top four finish a certainty with a win against their Mumbai rivals. Will the Mumbai Indians crack under pressure yet again, or can they pull off the almost impossible? They definitely have the talent to triumph.

IPL odds supplied courtesy of Canbet.com. New members receive a £25 Cricket Free Bet.  

IPL match preview:

Chennai Super Kings

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 11, Won – 6, Lost – 4, N/R – 1

Looking to seal their place amongst the IPL top four, Chennai proved just how resilient they are after recovering from a batting collapse to lose bravely against the Royal Challengers last time out. Team captain, Dhoni has indicated that his team is not after massive totals and feels comfortable defending 140-plus scores. A couple of changes are expected.

Best Bet for Chennai Super Kings:

MS Dhoni – 9/10
Matthew Hayden- 9/10
Albie Morkal – 8/10
Suresh Raina- 7/10
Muttiah Muralitharan -7/10

Mumbai Indians

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 12, Won – 5, Lost – 6, N/R – 1

After a heartbreaking loss to Rajasthan in a closely fought encounter, Mumbai will be desperate to win against the Super Kings and keep their semi-final hopes afloat – they need to win all their remaining games and hope other sides fumble to advance. The old adage “too many chefs spoil the brew” rings true here – they need to stick to the batting formula that works and allow premier batsmen Sanath Jayasuria and Sachin Tendulkar to open the innings.

Best Bet for Mumbai Indians:

Sachin Tendulkar – 9/10
Sanath Jayasuria – 9/10
Abhishek Nayar – 8/10
Dwayne Bravo – 7/10
JP Duminy – 7/10

Mumbai Indians vs. Rajasthan Royals

If you thought it didn’t get any better than the day’s earlier matchup, think again. The Mumbai Indians (1.70) and Rajasthan Royals (2.15) are set to lock horns under the lights and it’s sink or swim for both teams. The Indians are yet to live up to their potential, while the Royals will be without their inspirational leader Shane Warne. Who will prevail in this epic encounter?

IPL odds supplied courtesy of Canbet.com. New members receive a £25 Cricket Free Bet.

IPL match preview:

Mumbai Indians

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 11, Won – 5, Lost – 5, N/R – 1

This game features strong as a ‘figurative’ quarter-final, with the victor taking a clear edge in the race for a semi-final spot. Both teams are tied at 11 points after 11 games, with Mumbai holding a better run-rate. Though Bravo did well in the last game as an opener, Mumbai has to get Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuria to open the batting if they are to seize the advantage.

Best Bet for Mumbai Indians:

Sachin Tendulkar – 9/10
Dwayne Bravo – 9/10
JP Duminy – 8/10
Sanath Jayasuria – 8/10
Lasitha Malinga – 8/10

Rajasthan Royals

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 11, Won – 5, Lost – 5, N/R – 1

The absence of Captain Shane Warne will be a huge blow for the Royals, who have constantly relied on his cunning and confidence to score positive results. Graeme Smith will take the helm in his place, the South African Captain is no stranger to the limelight or the pressure. Rajasthan’s already depleted bowling force, both Kamran Khan and Amit Singh have been reported for suspect actions, will face a huge test without the spin maestro. Much will depend on Yusuf Pathan and Ravinder Jadeja’s all-round abilities.

Best Bet for Rajasthan Royals:

Ravindra Jadeja – 9/10
Graeme Smith – 9/10
Yusuf Pathan – 9/10
Naman Ojha – 8/10
Drimiti Mascarenhas – 7/10

Kings XI Punjab vs. Mumbai Indians

The arrival of speedster Brett Lee has added impetuous to the Kings XI Punjab’s (1.85) Indian Premier League campaign, with a string of victories pulling them back from the brink of IPL 2009 oblivion. Will their renewed confidence be enough to trump the inconsistent Mumbai Indians (1.95)? With the top four yet to be decided, there’s plenty to play for under lights at SuperSport Park in Centurion.  

IPL odds supplied courtesy of Canbet.com. New members receive a £25 Cricket Free Bet.  

IPL match preview:

Kings XI Punjab

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 10, Won – 5, Lost – 5

The Rajasthan Royals defeat at the hands of the Deccan Chargers has opened the door for Kings XI Punjab to make a run for a Indian Premier League Semi-finals berth. The return of Brett Lee and Sreesanth has been instrumental in their renewed good fortune, and they will settle for nothing less than full points from this encounter. Lee will be their trump card against Tendulkar and Jayasuria. 

Best Bet for Kings XI Punjab:

Yuvraj Singh – 9/10
Brett Lee – 9/10
Mahela Jayawardene – 8/10
Irfan Pathan – 7/10
Kumar Sangakkara – 7/10

Mumbai Indians

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 10, Won – 4, Lost -5, N/R – 1

They’ve kept their tournament alive with victory over the Bangalore Royal Challengers, and now they need to keep the momentum flowing their way with victory here. They will miss the services of Zaheer Khan who is still nursing an injury; therefore Lasitha Malinga will have a greater work load. Jayasuria, who was left out for their last match, returns to the side.

Best Bet for Mumbai Indians:

Sachin Tendulkar – 9/10
Sanath Jayasuria – 9/10
JP Duminy – 8/10
Lasitha Malinga – 8/10
Ajinka Rahane – 7/10

Royal Challengers vs. Mumbai Indians

At least one thing will be reliable when the Bangalore Royal Challengers face off against the Mumbai Indians in Port Elizabeth – the pitch. The average first innings total at the ground has been 162! Unfortunately, the same kind of consistency has been lacking from both franchises.  Bangalore enjoys the richest vein of form, however Mumbai is bolstered by the return of Jayasuriya.  

IPL odds supplied courtesy of Canbet.com. New members receive a £25 Cricket Free Bet.  

IPL match preview:

Bangalore Royal Challengers

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 9, Won – 4, Lost -5

Bangalore hold a slight upper hand over Mumbai in the points table and they will be desperate to score another two points here. The team is in good spirits despite their loss to the Rajasthan Royals in their last match. Bangalore has no injury worries, unlike Mumbai.

Best Bet for Bangalore Royal Challengers:          

Rahul Dravid – 8/10
Mark Boucher -8/10
Robin Uthappa – 7/10
Anil Kumble – 7/10
Praveen Kumar – 7/10

Mumbai Indians

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 9, Won – 3, Lost -5, N/R – 1

It’s almost Mission Impossible for the Mumbai Indians, unless they win their next five matches in a row. They are too dependent on their openers Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuria, and every time they fail the team struggles to post 140-runs on board. Injury concerns for Zaheer Khan doesn’t help their casue as their bowlers are taking a beating too.

Best Bet for Mumbai Indians:

Sachin Tendulkar – 9/10
Sanath Jayasuria – 8/10
JP Duminy – 7/10
Harbajan Singh – 7/10
Dhawal Kulkarni – 7/10

Mumbai Indians vs. Delhi Daredevils

The richest franchise in the IPL, the Mumbai Indians (2.15) take on this year’s most dominant side the Delhi Daredevils (1.70) in East London tonight. Mumbai has so far failed to convert deep pockets into a wealth of form and against the clinical proficiency of the Daredevils their chances of making the Indian Premier League semi-finals may be further diminished.

IPL odds supplied courtesy of Canbet.com. New members receive a £25 Cricket Free Bet.  

IPL match preview:

Mumbai Indians

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 8, Won – 3, Lost -4, N/R – 1

Yet another dismal performance from the most promising team on paper; the Mumbai Indians have only themselves to blame for hanging in the lower half of the points table after a good start to the tournament. Their openers have failed and their bowlers have been below par. Harbajan Singh has not struck form and Mumbai are likely to miss Zaheer Khan for a few more games. 

Best Bet for Mumbai Indians:                                  

Sachin Tendulkar – 8/10
Sanath Jayasuria -8/10
JP Duminy – 8/10
Dhawal Kulkarni – 7/10
Rohan Raje – 6/10

Delhi Daredevils

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 7, Won – 5, Lost – 2

Delhi Daredevils are comfortably sitting at the top of the table with five wins. Another victory will virtually assure them of a semi-final spot. David Warner has filled in well for the injured Virender Sehwag. It would make tactical sense, and enthuse their fans, if the likes of Farveez Maharoof and Glenn McGrath get an outing tonight.

Best Bet for Delhi Daredevils:                                   

T Dilshan – 9/10
Gautam Gambhir – 8/10
Ashish Nehra – 8/10
Amit Mishra – 8/10
David Warner – 7/10

Mumbai Indians vs. Deccan Chargers

Today’s IPL focus is the cracking encounter between the Mumbai Indians and the Deccan Chargers at Centurion. Evenly matched, both sides are in wane and have struggled to maintain consistent form. However, both can also be brutally efficient with both bat and ball. Cricket betting tips: With the average opening innings score at the ground just over 150 runs to date, anything less will be near impossible to defend. Make your cricket knowledge count, you can bet live in the run on all IPL matches at Canbet.com.

IPL match preview:

Mumbai Indians

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 7, Won – 3, Lost -3, N/R – 1

Win one, lose one – this is the disturbing form pattern has developed for the sometimes sublime, sometimes mediocre Indians in the Indian Premier League 2009. It’s an alarming sign of inconstancy and quick repair work is needed. Both Tendulkar and JP Duminy have been pillars of strength with the bat for the franchise, but evidently two players can’t carry the team. It’s time for a united effort before it’s too late.  

Best Bet for Mumbai Indians:                                  

Sachin Tendulkar – 9/10
Sanath Jayasuria -9/10
Harbajan Singh – 8/10
Dhawal Kulkarni – 7/10
Dwayne Bravo – 7/10

Deccan Chargers

IPL 2009 so far: Played – 7, Won – 4, Lost – 3

With their tremendous start to IPL 2009 erased by three straight defeats, the Deccan Chargers are struggling to arrest the slide and keep themselves in contention. Once again, the performance of their openers along with Rohit Sharma will be pivotal to their chances – apart from this trio their batting has been disappointingly brittle, in spite of the heroics from Dwayne Smith in last game. In the absence of the fast and furious Fidel Edwards, Vaas’s experience will come in handy to counter Mumbai’s veteran openers.

Best Bet for Deccan Chargers:

Adam Gilchrist – 9/10
Rohit Sharma – 8/10
Herschel Gibbs – 8/10
Pragyan Ojha – 8/10
TS Suman- 7/10

Next Page »