Indian Premier League Observer

Mumbai Indians, the IPL Mumbai franchisee owned by industrialist Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries, is all set to face the Bangalore Royal Challengers, the Bangalore franchisee of the DLF IPL owned by liquor baron Vijay Mallya. Bangalore Royal Challengers have now another match to regain the lost confidence in the team, which has been lost by the disappointing victory it had to suffer from the hands of Shah Rukh Khan’s Kolkata Knight Riders.

The Mumbai Wankhede stadium will witness the first home match of the Mumbai Indians, being led by none other than the icon player of the team Sachin Tendulkar lock horns with the Bangalore Royal Challengers led by Rahul Dravid.

The main problem which is still facing the Mumbai Indians is the fitness of their star batsman Sachin Tendulkar. It’s still not known as to whether Sachin would play in the inaugural match of the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Royal Challengers skipper Rahul Dravid would be a worried man after their disappoint loss against the Knight Riders. The match saw one of the most exciting batting performances in the history of the game with Aussie Brendon McCullum blistering his way to a mammoth 158 and thus handling an easy win to his Knight Riders team. The same thing would repeat if Rahul Dravid fails a way to send back the Lankan marauder Sanath Jayasurya, who is bound to open the Mumbai Indians batting alongside Sachin Tendulkar. Jayasurya is well know for his aggressive batting and he would surely be a menace for the Royal Challengers if allowed to settle.

Bangalore Royal Challengers is worried by the absence of two exciting bowlers Dale Steyn and Nathan Bracken. While Dale Steyn is playing domestic cricket in South Africa, Aussie Nathan Bracken is nursing an injury. Without the presence of these two promising bowlers, the bowling line-up of Bangalore Royal Challengers lacked sharpness during their match against the Kolkata Knight Riders and this would be a major concern for the Royal Challengers. They have to find some way to strengthen their bowling line-up especially, and also the batting line-up does not look too good with Indian test player Wasim Jaffer opening the batting.

Just like Mumbai Indians is worried over the fitness of Sachin, Bangalore Royal Challengers also has a reason to worry - Indian test captain Anil Kumble’s fitness. It is unlikely that Anil Kumble would be ready for the match against Mumbai Indians on Sunday.