IPL 2017: Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Lions, 5 winning factors

#2 With the Ball

Andrew Tye and his knuckle deliveries could be a key weapon for the Lions on a batting beauty.

In Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah, the Mumbai Indians have a pair that is extremely difficult to score off, especially at the fag end of an innings. The former missed the last match owing to illness but could be returning to share death-over responsibilities with the latter.

Mitchell McClenaghan is expected to be the third seamer in the attack. The Kiwi left-hander started the season in disappointing fashion, but impressed in his spell against RCB, giving away just 20 in his 4 overs while accounting for the wickets of Virat Kohli and Mandeep Singh.

Bowling has always been the weak link in Gujarat Lions’ armoury, which prides itself on its pack of hard-hitting batsmen. However, the return of Ravindra Jadeja and the excellent debut of Andrew Tye augurs well for the team. Known elsewhere for his variations in pace, the knuckleball, in particular, Tye announced his arrival to the Indian IPL audience in grand style, picking a five-for on debut that included a hat-trick.