Mumbai: This one promises to be the game of the IPL with Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians taking on the star power of the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first semi-final on Wednesday. And the prize at stake is the chance to be just one step away from IPL glory.
The two teams being the best in the competition had many wanting to see them in the finals but Bangalore's slip at the end of the league stage made them fall to the fourth place and hence, meet the in-form Mumbai in the semi-final itself.
But the fact that Bangalore thrashed Mumbai on their home turf at the Brabourne Stadium just over a month ago will give them a boost. The Royal Challengers, who after losing their first game, played some sublime cricket to emerge as one of the favourites this year. However, they have lost momentum and are a little short of confidence going into the knockout game.
Their worry will be the slump Jacques Kallis has hit after some peerless knocks. The opener, who had the Orange Cap in his firm grip, has failed to get going in the last few games, which has put pressure on what has to be the strongest middle order in the IPL. If Kallis regains his form, Bangalore's flamboyant batsmen get the license to go all out, something which they have not been privileged to in the last few outings.
Kevin Pietersen's 62 off 29 against Rajasthan may be a fortune-tuner for Bangalore as one of the most destructive players of the modern games has hit form and will be raring to have a go at Mumbai. Pietersen along with Bangalore's man-of-the-season Robin Uthappa will be decisive against Mumbai. If either of the two manage to stick around for a sizable amount of time, no total is beyond reach for Bangalore.
Bangalore have two finishers in Virat Kohli and Ross Taylor while Rahul Dravid adds solidity and makes the batting versatile.
Mumbai, on the other hand, depend largely on their skipper Sachin Tendulkar. Though the ensemble cast is impressive, Tendulkar's success in an innings is almost imperative for them. Ambhati Rayadu and Saurabh Tiwary can hold their own but they are at their best when they have the master guiding them at the other end. Tendulkar, like Kallis, seems to be running out of steam as the IPL reaches its business end. It may have to do more with fatigue than form in case of both the champion players.
Apart from Tendulkar, Mumbai batting has the burly Kieron Pollard, who now has hit form and will be perhaps the biggest worry for the Bangalore bowlers. Bangalore's bowlers, apart from Anil Kumble and Dale Steyn, lack experience and if Mumbai launch into the likes of Vinay Kumar, Bangalore may leak plenty.
Although the Mumbai team has the best batsman in the world in their team, their strength lies in their phenomenal bowling. Zaheer Khan, Lasitha Malinga, Harbhajan Singh, Ryan McLaren, all have made batsmen struggle in the tournament and the tall Bangalore batting has to draw all their ability and experience to get on top of them.
The battle will be between the Bangalore batting and the Mumbai bowling, and it can be said the side that wins the battle will get a foot in the doors to the final, unless the master Sachin Tendulkar or the old warhorse Anil Kumble decide otherwise.
