In the wake of their impressive chase of yet another 200-plus total on Sunday, May 21st, Mumbai Indians (MI) found themselves in the grip of suspense. Their fate was hinging on the outcome of the last league encounter featuring Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), a match crucial for their playoff hopes. Despite the apprehension, the night ended with their spot in the playoffs confirmed, bringing relief to the MI camp.
Rohit Sharma, the MI skipper, had commented post the SRH game that they would only have themselves to blame if they failed to advance. His words held water. While MI finished with 16 points thanks to three victories in their last four games, the inconsistency in their initial performances left them dependent on others’ outcomes. This dependence is now a thing of the past, and they stand at a stage where they have to shape their own fate. Losing the upcoming Wednesday match will deprive them of a chance to vie for the title for the sixth time.
Probable XI
MI’s batting prowess has been a key factor this season, earning them several victories. This batting unit, however, had a challenging run during the match at Chepauk, hence a lesson learnt from there will be crucial. The teams are likely to be as follows:
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma/Vishnu Vinod, Nehal Wadhera, Tim David, Chris Jordan, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Hrithik Shokeen.
Lucknow Super Giants: Kyle Mayers, Quinton de Kock (WK), Prerak Mankad, Marcus Stoinis, Krunal Pandya (C), Nicholas Pooran, Ayush Badoni, K Gowtham, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Yash Thakur.
Weather Forecast
The climatic predictions hint at a humid evening as the teams gear up for the eliminator on May 24, 2023, at the MA Chidambaram stadium, Chennai. Considering the pattern of scores witnessed in the second half at Chepauk, even a 150 could potentially be a match-winning total.
Despite Lucknow Super Giants’ impressive run in their inaugural season, it was RCB who brought their journey to an end. This time around, they aim to go further in the competition, and their journey despite the fierce competition from other teams, losing their skipper KL Rahul at a pivotal point, and their less than ideal home record, is praiseworthy. With a slow surface expected for the upcoming match, LSG, who have shown adeptness in such conditions, are optimistic about their chances. However, MI, with their lessons from Chepauk, and LSG, who need their top order to perform, both have challenges to overcome in this thrilling clash.
