Indian T20 League Match 51 Rajasthan vs Mumbai Preview – Team News, Key Players and More

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Match Details

Date: October 5, 2021

Time: 7:30 PM (IST)

Venue: Sharjah Cricket Stadium

Live Ball-by-ball Commentary: SportsTiger App

Preview: There is a reason why the Indian T20 League is regarded as the toughest T20 tournament in the world. Just over 10 days to go for the final and there it is yet not known who will be the fourth team to qualify for the playoffs. In fact, multiple teams are in the race for the lone vacant spot and both the teams in contention on Tuesday- Rajasthan and Mumbai- are among those looking to make that cut.

The match in that sense becomes a do or die one. The season is on the line. The destiny is pretty much in the hands of Rajasthan who win their two matches and qualify for the playoffs but for Mumbai apart from winning their two games, they would also have top hope that Rajasthan beat Kolkata so as to prevent the Eoin Morgan-led side from reaching to 14 points.

No amount of analysis can explain Mumbai's inconsistent season and on paper, they will yet again start as favourites but Rajasthan will sense the ability to achieve something special here and if they manage to reach the final four with wins over Mumbai and Kolkata, they are likely to be the team to watch out for in the business end.

For now, the teams would want to give it their best shot and remain alive in the competition- a defeat here and it's practically all over. In such a scenario, who will come out on top and who will handle their nerves better? We shall find out when the match begins on Tuesday.

Position in the Indian T20 League standings:

Rajasthan: Current Position: 6th (10 points in 12 matches)

Mumbai: Current Position: 7th (10 points in 12 matches)

Team News

Rajasthan: What a game of cricket Rajasthan were part of their previous match against Chennai Super Kings. Who knows perhaps that kind of a win might just have come at the right time for them as it would boost their confidence levels and give them the necessary belief that they can beat even the team which is at the top of the table. Despite a few average performances especially in the end overs, the Men in Pink are likely to stick with the same XI. After all, why fix something which isn't broken?

Mumbai: Mumbai's batting has failed altogether. They just haven't given their bowlers enough runs to win them matches. It is a quality lineup and they are likely to back them to come good and even if one or two of them comes good on the day, which they are due for, Rajasthan can be blown away in Mumbai wind.

Off-spinning all-rounder Jayant Yadav was included only to cater to the left-handers in the Delhi Capitals team and with a few of them even in the Rajasthan set up, he might retain his place.

Head to Head (in Indian T20 League)

Matches Played – 23

Rajasthan – 11

Mumbai – 12

Key Players:

Jasprit Bumrah: It is a big match and Mumbai would want their big player to perform big time! Jasprit Bumrah is the team's highest wicket-taker this season with 17 wickets at an average of 21.00 and a best of 3/36 and an economy of 7.59. For Mumbai to do well, Bumrah will need to unfold a magical spell and somehow break the opposition batters' plan to tackle him as there is no doubt that he would be the guy in the minds of the rival teams when they take on Mumbai.

Sanju Samson: What an occasion this is for Sanju Samson. The captain of the Rajasthan is their highest run-getter with 480 runs and knows that his team needs him to step up in the big matches. The only criticism Samson faces is lack of consistency and in a season where he has averaged 48.00 with a strike rate of around 140, can he end it on a high aiding the Men in Pink to a Playoff berth? We will wait and see.

Probable Playing XI:

Rajasthan: Evin Lewis, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson (c & wk), Shivam Dube, Glenn Phillips, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Akash Singh, Mayank Markande, Chetan Sakariya, Mustafizur Rahman

Mumbai: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jayant Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult