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The Mumbai Indians (MI) will host the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in what is an incredibly crucial encounter for both teams at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday. Both teams have won five out of their ten games so far and the winner will rise up to the third place in the points table.
Mumbai were thrashed by Bangalore the last time these two teams met in their opening game of the season. However, it is absolutely anyone's game tonight as both sides have their strengths and weaknesses.
Given how high the stakes are in the game, star players on both teams can face off against each other and those match-ups could prove to be vital in determining the result of the game. On that note, let's take a look at three such match-ups:
#3 Glenn Maxwell vs Piyush Chawla
Glenn Maxwell's bat has been silent since RCB have been playing away games. His sensational start to the season at the Chinnaswamy Stadium gave fans hope and they will want him to find his mojo at such a crucial juncture in the tournament.
However, Maxwell has had his struggles against wrist spin and the hosts will be ready with the match-up in the form of Piyush Chawla. The veteran leg-spinner is the highest wicket-taker for Mumbai this season, with 17 wickets in 10 games, and has been the lone shining light in their underperforming bowling attack.
Maxwell has scored 54 runs off 36 balls that he has faced from Chawla but has also been dismissed thrice. With the Australian star unlikely to hold back, this could prove to be an intriguing player battle.
#2 Virat Kohli vs Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer shelled a caught-and-bowled chance on the first delivery that he bowled to Virat Kohli when the two teams met earlier this season. After that, it was just one-way traffic in this match-up as Kohli smashed Archer to all parts of the ground.
Mumbai really need Archer to find his mojo as their injury-hit bowling attack is already looking toothless. The England speedster has shown signs of getting back to his best at least as far as speed and accuracy is concerned and MI would want him to get the in-form Kohli early tonight.
Kohli has scored 85 runs off 64 balls from Archer in all T20s and is yet to be dismissed. The speedster would be keen to prove a point and hand his team the early wicket of Kohli that they desperately need.
#1 Rohit Sharma vs Mohammed Siraj
Rohit Sharma had an unwanted record named after him on Saturday as he scored the most number of ducks in IPL history (16). Having failed to open his accounts on the past two occasions, questions have started to surface on his form and even on his place in the team.
Things could get even tougher for the opener as RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj has enjoyed bowling in the powerplay. Although he hasn't dismissed Rohit yet, he troubled the Mumbai Indians skipper with swing and seam in the reverse fixture and that would definitely be on the visitors' minds.
It will be interesting to see what Rohit Sharma tries to get rid of Siraj's threat and also his rough patch of form.
