IPL 2017 KKR vs MI: MI Team Looks Strong But There Are Gaps

#IPL #IPL 2017

#Indian #Premier #League

Going into #IPL 2017 as one of the favourites, two-time #IPL #Champions Mumbai Indians (#MI) did not get off to the most auspicious start as they lost their first match of the season against Rising Pune Supergiants (#RPS) by seven wickets. The bowlers leaked plenty of runs and the fielding wasn't up to the mark as Steve Smith led Pune to a huge victory. 

Mumbai, now take on two-time IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders (#KKR) at the historic #Wankhede today. At least three changes are expected in the MI XI from their last match as their batsman, #AmbatiRayudu, is ruled out of the match with a grade 1 groin tear and the team is set to bring back two of their seasoned campaigners, #HarbhajanSingh and #LasithMalinga. 

Probable playing XI for Mumbai Indians:

#JosButtler to open the batting with #ParthivPatel.

#RohitSharma, who was out of action since October, returned to action last week when Mumbai Indians took on RPS.  

#NitishRana followed by #AllRounders #HardikPandya and #KrunalPandya have a huge role to play. 

#KieronPollard has been a proven match-winner for Mumbai Indians over the last few years. 

Bowling will be led by #MitchellMcClenaghan, #HarbhajanSingh and #LasithMalinga. #JaspreetBumrah has a huge role to play for his franchise this season. Bumrah and Malinga bowling in tandem in the death will make life difficult for the opposition batsmen.

Powered by:
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com

MI Crush CSK To Enter IPL Final

#CSK vs #MI
#Qualifier 1
#Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
19th May 2015

A superb all round performance from Mumbai Indians​ ensured they qualified for the IPL - Indian Premier League​ final beating Chennai Super Kings​ by 26 runs at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 

Watched by a sea of blue MI fans, they batted and bowled CSK out of the game easily. Their openers put another sterling show by setting up 90 for the opening stand to lay foundation for #Pollard to play his usual cameos to end with a flourish and set a challenging 188 run target for CSK to win.

After a lucky horror decision against Dwayne Smith and accounting for Mike Hussey, Faf Du Plessis and Suresh Raina momentarily steadied the ship and looked threatening. It all ended in one dramatic and special Harbhajan Singh​ over. He claimed wickets of Suresh Raina​ and MS Dhoni​ off consecutive deliveries firmly turned tide in their favor.

The middle and late order batsmen tried hard but the target was beyind them.

MI will head to Kolkata for the IPL final (24th May 2015) and await winner of Qualifier 2, scheduled for 22nd May 2015 in Ranchi. CSK will now play that game against winners of the Eliminator (#RCB or #RR).

#LIVE #SCORES
MI - 187 for 6, 20 overs
CSK - 162 all out, 19 overs 

Man of the Match: #Kieron #Pollard

Powered by: 
http://www.whowillwinthecup.com

Sri Lanka - The Asian Lions Deserve To Be 50 Over World Champs

#SriLanka: No one other than #TeamAustralia has been as consistent over the last 15 years (since the new millennium). Winners of the previous #ICCT20WorldCup after being on the losing side in finals of all major tournaments including two World Cups, Champions Trophy and T20 Championships.

Sri Lankan sides just look very well organized every time they participate in any tournament. Agreed, they don't have big names to boast of (apart from #Jayawardhane, #Sangakara, #Malinga and to some extent #AngeloMatthews) but they are very compact side. There is no fuss about this team. They go about doing their job professionally and the results are for everyone to see.

From minnows in earlier world cup editions to world champs in 1996 under the legendary #ArjunaRantunga, they have come a long way since. Outplayed in the 1999 edition in England, they bounced back in 2003 to reach the semi finals (where they had Australia in trouble at a stage but eventually lost the game). They went a step ahead in 2007 reaching the finals (again to lose to Australia) and in 2011 (lost to India). Shows their consistency on all types of wickets and conditions. Just that they lack the killer genius of #AravindaDeSilva and #SanathJayasuriya of 1996 to take that one step further.

Personally, I think the Sri Lankans are highly under-rated players. They have not really gotten their due on world stage like the power/rich Indian players, superstar Aussies ad Pakistanis or the media powerful England and SA players have. Maybe their lifestyle, demeanor and laid back approach could be the reason. But their skills are amazing and they should demand their own value by winning this #ICCWorldCup2015. Its about time...

Batting looks solid with Dilshan, Jayawardena, Sanga will guide their youngsters well. Probably the last cup for Sanga-Jaya. Therefore, they'd like to bow out on a high! (just like they did in the T20 final two years ago)

Bowling seems to be a slightly weak area although Malinga and Kulasekhara will bring in all their experience and guile into the fast bowling attack. The Australian and Kiwi pitches will support both bounce and swing. Hence, seamers will rule the roost and they are looking forward to young seamers in Prasad, Lakmal and Perera to come up with the goods.

Spin department is in the able hands of the veteran Rangana Herath. He along with Jeevan Mendis and Senanayake will bring variety to their potent bowling attack.

All rounders will be led by Angelo Matthews. Awesomely talented and fit-for-all situations in a match, he will be a key cog in the Sri Lankan armour if they are to win the cup. Will they?

Team Sri Lanka for ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Angelo Matthews
Lahiru Thirimanne
Dinesh Chandimal
Tilakatne Dilshan
Mahela Jayawardena
Kumar Sangakarra
Dimuth Karunaratne
Lasith Malinga
Nuwan Kulasekara
Thisara Perera
Dhammika Prasad
Suranga Lakmal
Rangana Herath
Sachithra Senanayake
Jeevan Mendis