Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Mumbai Indians are all set to take Royal Challengers Bangalore in the tournament opener today in Chennai. According to reports, Australian cricketer will make his IPL debut for defending champions Mumbai Indians today. In the absence of MI's regular opener Quinton de Kock, Australian cricketer Chris Lynn is likely to open at the top of the order in MI's season opener. This is because MI's first-choice opener Kock is not available for selection owing to his mandatory quarantine period.
Lynn, who was part of the MI squad in 2020 too, did not even get to play a single match but is likely to make his debut in Blue and Gold against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Lynn has played 41 matches in the tournament and scored 1280 runs in the tournament at an average of 33.68.
Padikkal may open along with Virat Kohli after recovering from COVID-19
Meanwhile, the news from RCB camp is that youngster Devdutt Padikkal, who had tested positive for COVID-19 may open along with Virta Kohli after recovering from the infection. While there were reports suggesting that he may not be able to make it for the first game, fresh reports hint otherwise as the southpaw had tested negative a couple of days ago. Daniel Sams, however, will not play a part in this match after having tested positive for COVID-19 on April 7.
Can Mumbai Indians finally start off with a win?
MI are known to be perennial slow starters. In fact, they haven't won their first game of the season since 2012. However, the good things about that first win was that it came in Chennai and they would look to get their campaign off to a winning start this time. Kohli and Co. though would want to ride high on the confidence of a win against the five-time champions and sustain that belief that they can lift their maiden title this season.