The match at the Green Park stadium in Kanpur is going to be a huge game for both the Gujarat Lions and the Mumbai Indians. The repercussions of the result are huge; this could well be the match that decides the playoff lineup. Mumbai's chances of progressing become extremely bright if they win this game, as their positive net run rate will more or less take them through to the last four. However, a top two finish looks unlikely for Mumbai with teams like RCB, GL, KKR and SRH being front-runners for the top spots. Also read: Gujarat Lions (GL) vs Mumbai Indians (MI) IPL 2016 Live Cricket Score & Ball by Ball Commentary
The equation is simpler for Gujarat now that they have beaten KKR in the previous game. If Gujarat wins they don't just qualify for the playoffs, they will also be assured of a top two finish. That will be a massive boost for Gujarat, and Raina will settle for nothing less! The flip-side to this is if they lose against Mumbai they can still get knocked out of the tournament; Gujarat would then have to hope that KKR/DD/RCB do not go beyond 14 points. The problem for Gujarat is their poor net run rate, which could be a telling factor in the end.
Mumbai Indians have had a bit of a break after they demolished the Daredevils at Vizag. Gujarat Lions too will be upbeat after comprehensively beating KKR on Thursday. For Mumbai it's a familiar situation, as they seem to have the habit of scraping their way through to the playoffs every season. Don't be surprised if Mumbai Indians get the better of the Lions in this do-or-die game.
Venue: Green Park stadium, Kanpur
Match Date: May 21, 2016
Match timings: 2000 hrs IST
If Gujarat Lions bat first
Predicted score: 155 and above
Dwayne Smith and Brendon McCullum need to do better at the top. The Kanpur pitch will help the seamers early on, and the openers would need to be cautious against the likes of McClenaghan and Bumrah. The battle of the compatriots McCullum and McClenaghan should be exciting to watch.
Suresh Raina has led by example, and his return to the side has lifted the spirits of the Lions. He is the local boy and knows these conditions very well. The troika of Dinesh Karthik, Aaron Finch and Dwayne Bravo, meanwhile, will be expected to bat according to the demands of the situation. Finch has impressed everyone with his adaptability, and has batted out of his comfort zone in the middle order. Local boy Eklavya Dwivedi went untested in the last game, and this match might be his trial by fire.
The Gujarat bowling was outstanding against KKR, and Raina would love an encore from his bowlers. The four seamers – Praveen Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith – will look to do all the damage up front. Praveen Kumar vs Martin Guptill should be a fun contest. Jadeja and Jakati, on the other hand, will look to keep it tight in the middle overs against the big hitters Pandya, Buttler and Pollard.
If Mumbai Indians bat first
Predicted score: 165 and above
Mumbai might select the same XI that decimated the Delhi Daredevils. Rohit, however, could also be tempted to bring Hardik Pandya in place of Nitish Rana if the Green Park dishes out another green track.
Rohit and Guptill form a dangerous pair at the top; if one of them can bat through the innings Mumbai can post a gigantic total. Rohit has an insatiable hunger for big runs and he would love to play a captain's knock in this crucial tie.
Krunal Pandya has been a revelation with the bat, and he could be sent in the middle to attack the two left-arm spinners Jadeja and Jakati. Krunal comes in on the back of a blistering knock against the Delhi Daredevils and his confidence will be sky high. Buttler and Pollard will try to maintain an aggressive tempo in the middle, while Ambati Rayudu will have an important role to play if Mumbai lose early wickets.
On the bowling front, Vinay Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mitchell McCleneghan will want to exploit the conditions early on. Expect McCleneghan to pick up a couple of early wickets. He would also want to test Raina with some short pitched stuff. Harbhajan Singh and Krunal Pandya will try to keep things tidy and not allow the Lions to up the ante in the middle overs.
It’s anybody’s game, but Mumbai’s previous experiences of playing in these tight situations could just help them to beat the Lions.
Probable winners: Mumbai Indians
