MI will hope its bowlers can deliver

Mumbai Indians is becoming adept at defending its totals, with its bowlers delivering performances in keeping with their stature and experience.

Two back-to-back victories for Mumbai Indians were set up by Lasith Malinga, Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell McClenaghan with the young left-arm spinner Jagadeesha Suchith chipping in.

Going into the 10th game against Delhi Daredevils at the Wankhede stadium, the MI attack is showing sharpness and backing its batsmen.

There is a buzz around the home side, in keeping with the larger-than-life cut-outs at the venue.

Four wins, five losses is a ratio captain Rohit Sharma will seek to change in the games ahead, giving fans value for their money as the competition for places in the playoffs hots up.

No more mistakes

MI cannot afford any more mistakes and will hope the bowlers deliver their lines according to the script in the face-off against Daredevils.

The batsmen — Lendl Simmons, Parthiv Patel, Rohit, Ambati Rayudu and Kieron Pollard have all contributed with Harbhajan also pulling his weight in the squad as a batsman.

However, Harbhajan (nine wickets, eight games) winning matches with canny off-spin is more valuable to the home team than quick runs from his blade.

Like Malinga (13 wickets, nine games), the off-spinner commands respect on the strength of reputation alone from batsmen. Tight overs from either of them will induce the DD batsmen to take risks against McClenaghan or debutant Suchith whose poise under pressure is striking.

Pollard, though under-bowled so far, is a clever option against attacking batsmen.

The muscular West Indian, in contrast to being a fearsome striker with the bat, relies on trajectory to deceive the batsmen and MI may turn look to him for breakthroughs.

Shreyas Iyer, in the lead group of IPL 8 run-getters, is aware of how the Wankhede tracks behave in hot, humid summer months.

Praveen Amre, DD’s assistant coach, is a familiar face here and so is Zaheer Khan.

For both — associated with the Mumbai Ranji squad — Tuesday night’s contest against the home team is special.

Mumbai cricket is about winning ruthlessly, home or away. Reputations do not matter here, results do.