Trepidation would have touched the Mumbai Indians ranks when the side failed to put it across Chennai Super Kings and Kings XI Punjab.
Sachin Tendulkar’s side had cashed in on their home games and were sitting pretty on 14 points. They were just a win away from sealing a semifinal spot but stumbled in two away games before beating Rajasthan Royals on Sunday and clinching the two valuable points.
Mumbai have three more games before the semifinals, one at home and two away. These matches would provide their out-of-form opener Sanath Jayasuriya and Kieron Pollard, who is yet to play a match-winning knock, a great opportunity to spend time in the middle, minus the extreme pressure.
If the other big names in the batting line-up manage to get into the groove then there won’t be an overdependence on Sachin Tendulkar.
The maestro is enjoying one of his best seasons and he has extended his form to the Twenty20 version of the game. He has used his experience and skill to play a risk-free game and has dropped anchor most times. Tendulkar has made 512 runs from 11 innings.
The others have batted around him so far in the tournament and the fortunes of the side have largely revolved around how he has performed.
Though the young Indian batsmen in the Mumbai Indians line-up have performed well, it will be too much to expect them to win matches off their own bat.
Tendulkar has shown faith in the likes of Rajagopal Sathish, Ambati Rayudu and Saurabh Tiwary.
These youngsters have responded with cameos that have saved Mumbai Indians the blushes. And while their confidence is growing, it would be beneficial for the side if they can bank on their big-hitters to deliver over the next two weeks during crucial stages.
In the heat of the battle during the semifinal, one among Pollard, Jayasuriya or Dwayne Bravo will have to play out of their skins and don the role of the aggressor or finisher, while Tendulkar plays out a long innings.
Unlike the batsmen, the bowlers have clicked as a unit. This side has variety in their bowling attack, one that is of a very high quality.
Left-arm strike bowler Zaheer Khan, the unorthodox paceman Lasith Malinga and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh have been among the wickets. Khan and Malinga have 13 wickets each, while Harbhajan has 12.
As a unit they can be rather unplayable and also difficult to score runs off.
The Rajasthan Royals batsmen, who fell short by 37 while chasing 174, will testify for the effectiveness of the Mumbai Indians bowlers.
Overall, the Mumbai Indians have looked the best side in the competition. Tendulkar has led with a calm head and has been enjoying the game. It’s been so far so good for the Indians, but sterner tests lie ahead.
