Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore are gearing up for an exciting tournament tomorrow. Let’s have a look at their overseas members who are likely to play a key role in the team’s success.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The entire team of Royal Challengers Bangalore failed to deliver which eventually made them lose their second match of the season. In both the matches Aaron Finch scored in the twenties. However, the RCB team management will expect more from him in future matches. Just one performance is never a good sample set to pass judgment and count someone out of the combination.
The second overseas players in the RCB line-up is none other than AB de Villiers. Just like one cannot imagine RCB without Virat Kohli, the same is applicable for de Villiers. Moreover, he seems to be in form. In the first Bangalore match of this season, de Villiers scored a 30-ball 51*. In the second one as well he continued to give a glimpse of his mettle with 18-ball 28.
Josh Philippe was included in the set-up as keeper-batsman to the set-up. In the first fixture, he could only face two balls followed by a duck in the next. It was Mohammad Shami who dismissed Philippe in the match against Kings XI Punjab and Philippe became part of an RCB batting collapse. He must show hill skills now before it is too late.
Dale Steyn’s experience brings depth to Bangalore’s bowling unit. He had terrible outings in the last two matches as he gave away 90 runs off 46 balls to pick up only one wicket. As the league gets tougher the side needs its most veteran pacer to work for them. Steyn must be looking for a decent spell this time to take RCB in a better position.
Mumbai Indians
Quinton de Kock failed against KKR but he was good against Chennai Super Kings in the first match of Mumbai Indians. He scored 33 off 20 balls and tried to put some effort to give a base to the MI innings. An important member of the team, a brilliant opener that he is, de Kock will be key for MI especially when Rohit Sharma fails.
Kieron Pollard has so far faced only 21 balls and scored 31 runs with an impressive strike rate above 147. He was decent enough with the ball as well in the second match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Pollard was influential behind Trinbago Knight Riders’ recent Caribbean Premier League win as their skipper. He was seen batting at No 4 often so that he could utilize his full potential. Mumbai Indians have yet to try the same but let’s just hope they manage to use this key weapon well.
James Pattinson is the highest wicket-taker of Mumbai Indians as of now in this edition. In two matches Pattinson took three wickets at an average of 17.22 and an economy of 6.50. In both occasions, he came up with early breakthroughs that helped his side to contain the batting of opponents. Moreover, after winning the last fixture where Pattinson got two scalps, he is a must.
Now comes the second-highest wicket-taker of Mumbai Indians for this season so far – Trent Boult. The pair of Pattinson and Boult has been doing well with the new ball for Mumbai Indians. In both occasions, these two were quick to send the openers of the opposition side within a few overs. In two matches Boult has scalped three wickets as well at an economy of 7.22.
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