Misfiring Mumbai Indians, struggling to get their team combination right, will take on the formidable batting might of Royal Challengers Bangalore in a potentially explosive IPl clash at the Wankhede Stadium here on Wednesday.
RCB, on the other hand, have a tricky bowling combination to set right in the absence of injured Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Starc — ruled out of the season and miserly leggie Samuel Badree, who is yet to make an appearance in the T20 league after picking up an injury during West Indies' triumphant run in the World T20 championship.
RCB come into the needle clash after being flattened by South African wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock's masterly hundred, the first ton by any batsman this season, and they will need to quickly correct their bowling combination.
Two-time title winners, MI have slumped to defeats in both their home matches this season to IPl debutants Rising Pune Supergiants and Gujarat lions nd they would be keen to score their first win on their traditional home ground in one of the two remaining games scheduled at the Wankhede Stadium before they move to Jaipur, which will become their new home for rest of the season.
Mumbai's top-order batting has been miserable so far barring the clash against Kolkata Knight Riders, another two-time champion outfit, when captain Rohit Sharma's superbly compiled unbeaten 84 led them to victory.
In the absence of their ever-reliance Sri lankan pacer lasith Malinga, Mumbai have depended upon the New Zealand duo of Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan to make early inroads and this combination is expected to continue against RCB.
After failing to contain SRH skipper David Warner at Hyderabad on Monday, Harbhajan Singh would be keen to get back into his best form at a ground where he often bowls well.
Gayle to miss two games
Royal Challengers Bangalore will be without the services of their star batsman Chris Gayle in the next two IPl matches as he has gone back to the West Indies to be with his partner Natasha Berridge, who is expecting their first child while while Kieron Pollard of Mumbai Indians is now fit for Wednesday’s match.
On Monday, the West Indian had tweeted a picture of himself on board an aircraft, with the caption, "I'm on my way, Baby".
Gayle will miss Wednesday’s away game against Mumbai Indians and also next game against Rising Pune Supergiants on Friday.