Former West Indies captain Brian Lara expects Mumbai Indians to rest some of their key players in the final match of the IPL 2020 league stage against Sunrisers Hyderabad which will favour the latter in Sharjah on Tuesday.
SRH need to win against MI to qualify for the playoffs whereas the defending champions have already secured a top-place finish in the league stage with 18 points from 13 games so far.
Lara therefore, feels MI might look to take it easy in their final league match before the playoffs and backed SRH to emerge victorious because of this very reason.
They (SRH) found themselves in this position and that’s from good playing in their recent games. So, I expect them to actually be up for the challenge.
“Mumbai Indians may be easing off, rest a few players which will favour SRH, but I think they have got to be ready for this quarter-final and for the rest of the tournament. If they win, they are in and I think they have got what it takes to do so," Lara said on Star Sports show Cricket Live.
There is a two-way battle going on between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders for the final playoff spot.
MI, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore have already advanced to the next stage while KKR currently occupy the fourth spot on the table having finished their league commitments.
SRH will go level on 14 points with KKR and will clinch the fourth spot if they win because of their superior net run-rate. MI and DC will play the first qualifier on November 5 while RCB will face either SRH or KKR in the eliminator on November 6.