IPL 2017, Qualifier 1: 5 reasons why Mumbai Indians can beat Rising Pune Supergiant

With 10 wins from 14 games, Mumbai Indians have been the most consistent side in the 10th edition of the Indian Premier League. All through the season, Rohit Sharma and company didn’t allow the momentum to shift. They have both their batting and bowling departments sorted.

The two-time champions will be eager to create a new IPL record by winning the title for the third time. They meet the Rising Pune Supergiant in the first qualifier on Tuesday at their fortress Wankhede for what promises to be a thoroughly entertaining game with both sides in good form. Here are 5 reasons why the Mumbai Indians can get the better off the Rising Pune Supergiant on Tuesday.

#1 The momentum

Mumbai Indians have been high on confidence throughout the season, because they have lost only 4 of their 14 games. For the entire season, their batting has clicked. When the likes of Lendl Simmons, Kieron Pollard, Rohit Sharma, Parthiv Patel, and Nitish Rana fire in unison, they can rip apart any bowling line-up in the world and the Supergiant will be no exception to that.

The Pandya brothers, Krunal and Hardik, are also delivering whenever needed and one can expect them to rise to the big occasion on Tuesday. Although Mumbai’s bowlers have been a let down on quite a few occasions, leaking over 200 runs in their last home game, the batting line-up makes up for all mistakes.

#2 Home advantage

Playing at home will favour MI

That the qualifier is at Mumbai Indians’ fortress, the iconic Wankhede Stadium, which is a huge boost for the hosts. The Mumbai side are well accustomed to their home conditions and hence will be confident as to what to expect on the day.

The pitch generally is a true surface which allows the stroke-makers to go all out. That is where Mumbai hold all the aces as they have batsmen who can go on and take the game by the scruff of its neck.

The bowlers know at what pace to bowl in order to curtail the run making and they work around with the angles which is a huge factor when fields are to be set according to the batsmen. A high scoring affair can be expected at Wankhede.

#3 Absence of Ben Stokes

Stokes had left India to represent England

As if Mumbai were not short of advantages already, Ben Stokes will not be available for the playoffs as he has flown back home to join his national team ahead of England's three-match ODI series against South Africa which starts on May 24.

That could be a turning point in Pune’s fortunes as Stokes had repaid every penny of the investment made in him in the recent games. The England all-rounder was in scintillating form this season — with both bat and ball.

In 10 matches, he slammed 283 runs, which included one century and one half-century. He also picked up 10 wickets with the ball this season. And not to forget his acrobatic fielding efforts – remember the catch he took to send back Mohammed Shami?

#4 Their bench strength

Rayudu played a brilliant hand in MI’s last encounter

Mumbai Indians have a lot of options to pick from and experiment with their rotation policy. They would be particularly satisfied that their bench strength which worked well against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, providing them more options to choose from for the all-important clash.

Case in point is Ambati Rayudu, who was playing only his second match of the season against KKR in the previous game, but blazed his way to a 50 in 32 balls. That is the kind of confidence even their fringe players are in.

As an option, Mumbai can bring in Rayudu in place of Rana who hasn’t been able to get going in the past few games.

#5 The resurgence of Rohit Sharma

Sharma’s form has taken a positive swing

The Mumbai skipper, after a dismal personal start to the season, has found his timing back and is now looking much more confident. He is now much confident in his ability to find gaps and play a decisive knock when the chips are down.

He proved his critics wrong when he scored a 45-ball 67 against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, hitting 6 fours and 2 sixes. What was special about that knock was that no other batsman but him looked comfortable batting on a two-paced wicket at Hyderabad.

Although he was dismissed on 2 in the team’s previous encounter against Kolkata, he looks much more settled than before. And on an occasion when it will matter the most, Mumbai can expect a special knock fro their captain.