Mumbai Indians host Rising Pune Supergiant in Indian Premier League 2017 season's second Maharashtra derby at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
Rohit Sharma's men were beaten by seven wickets in their early-season meeting on 6 April at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. Despite posting 184 on board, the Indians were blown away by Steve Smith's 54-ball 84.
However, the Indians have not lost a match since then and are sitting pretty at the top of the league table with 12 points from seven matches. On the other hand, the Supergiant, who lost three matches on the trot are back on track after winning their last two outings.
The hosts were tested in their last outing on Saturday by visiting Delhi Daredevils, who bowled out the Indians for 142. However, Mitchell Mcclenaghan and Jasprit Bumrah shone with the ball to take them past the line.
Rohit Sharma will be hoping to come good after scoring only 53 runs from seven matches in the season so far. Battling against the Supergiant, who have a consistent top-order and with MS Dhoni returning to form, the Indians cannot afford another below-par score.
Lasith Malinga's return from illness will be a big boost to the Indians, who are likely to drop Mitchell Johnson from the playing XI, which otherwise looks settled.
On the other hand, Smith will look to use 17-year-old off-spinner Washington Sundar, who made an impressive debut on Saturday, inside the powerplay overs, especially against left-handers Parthiv Patel and Nitish Rana. Pune, who are looking to break into the top-four with a win today, will be well served if local pacers Shardul Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat match their counterparts from the opposition camp.
Team News
Mumbai
Possible XI: Rohit (c), Buttler, Parthiv (wk), Rana, Pollard, Hardik, Krunal, Harbhajan, Malinga, McCleneghan, Bumrah
Pune
Possible XI: Smith (c), Rahane, Tripathi, Dhoni (wk), Stokes, Tiwary, Christian, Sundar, Unadkat, Tahir, Thakur
