MOHALI: It’s a clash between two teams at the extreme ends of the table; Mumbai Indian are the pace setters while Kings XI Punjab bring up the rear. The former are just a win away from securing a berth in the semifinals, while the home team’s languishing at the bottom ever since the IPL 3 started on March 12.
Things have gone so bad for KXIP, proudly presented and backed by Preity Zinta, that the bubbly Bollywood star has become invisible during the last two games. In fact, she went to Haridwar for a dip in the Ganga and even performed a ‘yagna’ for the team’s victory.
Punjab have just two wins to show in their 10 matches in what has been a miserable display by a team that promised much under new skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
On the other hand, the supremely confident Mumbai have lost just two games, the last being at Chennai when the team tumbled after Sachin Tendulkar suffered from cramps and dehydration in humid conditions. That was a hiccup MI would not be overly worried about. The weather conditions in Mohali will surely be not as sapping as down south - it is hot during the day but the temperatures dip at night and there is not much humidity either.
Mumbai are up against a team which has become a punching bag in this tournament, but Tendulkar’s men need to be cautious as KXIP do have the ability to surprise a team that lowers its guard. They did that to KKR, chasing 200.
In their remaining four matches KXIP will have two objectives: One, to spoil the chances of the teams that cross their path and two, to avoid the wooden spoon.
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