Not all discards make sense and sometimes the franchise do it because they need to save some money for the big buy but most are discarded because they are not good and so when another team picks them then they are either desperate or misguided, more likely the latter.

Gambhir is a completely different batsman in this format of the game. his footwork which seems tentative in test cricket is so positive that it’s a wonder he doesn’t step on the bowlers toes even before the ball is released.

The spinners he dismisses from his presence with shots that are breathtaking and he runs like a teenager between wickets. Chris Lynn has built up a reputation as a fearsome hitter of the ball and at Rajkot he displayed that power to club 8 sixes.

Mumbai will be wary of the Kolkata openers but they will also have to be careful how they bat against Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav. Chawla is getting better and better with every season and young Kuldeep has the knack of picking crucial wickets.

Mumbai will have to look at their bowling unit which came a cropper against the neighbours Pune in the Maharashtra derby in their opening game.

Dropping Harbhajan was a big call but maybe that will now make the feisty off-spinner come out and show why that was a big mistake. Experience like Harbhajan has, cannot be bought for love or money and his competitiveness and energy levels are also what Mumbai need.

The Sunrisers have begun splendidly and with Gujarat rattled by their enormous defeat the defending champions will have the upper hand. However this format allows players and teams to come back quite quickly and that is what Raina will be hoping for his team.

Source: PMG