Mumbai Indians gear up for Royal Challengers Bangalore

MUMBAI: Having infused some life into their campaign with a stunning win over Kings XI Punjab on Saturday, their first this IPL season, Mumbai Indians face another tough game as they try to climb up the points table.
On Tuesday night at the Wankhede Stadium, they will be up against the batting might of Royal Challengers Bangalore, who beat Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, riding on an incredible knock from AB de Villiers.
The swashbuckling South African showed exactly why he is rated by many as the top limited overs batsman in world cricket, blasting eight sixes in a 41-ball, unbeaten 89 to fashion a fabulous win for RCB.
The scary thought for the Mumbai Indians is that the other marauder in the RCB fold, Chris Gayle, is slowly but surely finding his groove. After missing the first four games due to a back injury, the Jamaican looked to be shaking off the rust against Sunrisers before getting dismissed.
Gayle has put the MI attack to the sword at the Wankhede before - he had carted a 59-ball, unbeaten 82 against them back in 2012.
Beyond Gayle and De Villiers, MI will have to plan for the other big guns in the RCB artillery - skipper Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh.
Both have sizzled in bursts, but both possess the quality to tear apart any attack. It will be interesting to see how the Wankhede crowd reacts to Kohli.
The star bat had criticised their behaviour after being booed at this venue last year, following a controversial run out appeal which he didn't withdraw. Kohli has risen in stature in Indian cricket dramatically since that episode, and is seen as heir apparent to current captain MS Dhoni.
With the experienced Zaheer Khan down with a side strain, MI aren't best-placed to take on this heavy batting machine, which will worry their 'star-studded' think-tank no end. They will largely bank on the brilliance of Lasith Malinga to derail RCB.
Right now though, the hosts have reason to be cheerful. Buoyed by their vociferous home crowd, they opened their account against a formidable side on Friday. Playing in familiar surroundings at home, MI look a far more dangerous team - they had won all their eight games at the Wankhede last season - a factor that went a long way in them clinching the title.
In Kieron Pollard, they have a finisher as good as any in the world. Skipper Rohit Sharma is due for a big one, while Kiwi all-rounder Corey Anderson will look to improve on his man-of-the-match performance on Saturday.