With Harbhajan Singh ruled out and a big question mark still there on Sachin Tendulkar's availability, the winless Mumbai Indians will be under tremendous pressure against Deccan Chargers of Hyderabad in a battle for survival in the Indian Premier League here on Sunday.
While the hosts were already struggling to open their account after three matches in the Twenty20 extravaganza in the absence of regular captain Tendulkar, who is nursing a groin injury, Harbhajan added to their agony as he allegedly slapped rival pacer S Sreesanth immediately after their match against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali on Friday night. Harbhajan has been suspended by IPL pending enquiry.
In batting, the Mumbai top-order, with Sanath Jayasuriya heading it, has not fired in unison and this has resulted in the team’s bottom order trying to salvage the situation, but to no avail. The bowlers too have not come up to scratch.
With Deccan Chargeres also not able to win a point still, both the teams would be eager to kick-start their tepid campaign under lights at cricket’s state-of-the-art stadium in the satellite township of Navi Mumbai.
Hyderabad will be looking to Australians Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds to lead their charge while captain VVS Laxman has been in poor form. The Hyderabad team’s attack looks slightly more balanced and penetrative than the home team.
In short, both teams have problems aplenty ahead of their crucial clash.
