The defending champions will be facing the Delhi Daredevils for the second time in IPL 2016. The match will be a very important game for both teams with their fates dependent on the result of this match. We have been beaten by the daredevils in our previous encounter and a win here will keep us in the hunt for the playoffs while a win for Delhi will take them a step closer to the playoff spot.

The change in venue has not been a happy change for us. Team is taking time to get acclimatised to the pitch and the conditions at Vizag. The pitch has been slow and has been offering assistance to the bowlers. After coming from a fast-paced wicket like Wankhede, it has been difficult for us to get used to the slowness of the wicket. This wicket is sluggish and doesn’t allow the batsmen to play their shots freely. Being a team blessed with big hitters, like Kieron Pollard, Jos Buttler and the captain himself, our players are finding it challenging to time the ball. The bowling department is more or less settled and has been doing a good job for MI, the leader being Mitchell McClenaghan who is the purple cap holder. Jasprit Bumrah and Tim Southee have given him good support from the other end. Going into the match we will have to read the pitch well and make the right decisions against DD as there will be no second chances after this.

The Delhi outfit currently occupies third position on the points table, having won their previous match. One major concern for Delhi will be the availability of their skipper, Zaheer Khan, who has been on and off the field due to a minor injury. The experienced pacer will be crucial for Delhi’s chances against a strong MI batting line-up who will go for the kill from the first ball. However the spin duo of Amit Mishra and Imran Tahir will enjoy the slow nature of the pitch and will look to make use of the turn, to spin a web around our batsmen.

In the previous match, Delhi managed to defend their total of 164, with Mumbai coming pretty close to chasing it down. We will be looking to go all the way this time around and get the momentum back on our side and precede to the last stage of the tournament. The pressure will be on us and we have always performed better under pressure having won 9 out of 10 high-pressure matches in the past. Going by the past record this stat only amplifies our performance in tense situations as we come out with a win almost every time. As the saying goes, when the going gets tough, only the tough get going. We will keep this in mind as we step into the ground to face the Delhi Daredevils.