Mumbai on a turnaround

Until a week ago, it would8217;ve been pardonable to believe that Mumbai, the country8217;s domestic giants...

Until a week ago, it would8217;ve been pardonable to believe that Mumbai, the country8217;s domestic giants, had got it all wrong in the IPL. Suddenly, the very thought seems blasphemous.

Be it the return to fitness of Sachin Tendulkar or the proverbial 8216;Mumbai spirit8217;, Sanath Jayasuriya finally striking form or Shaun Pollock bowling like he did at his best, the Mukesh Ambani-owned team has bounced back into contention. In fact, thanks to the effort put into the match against Chennai Super Kings or the decimation of Kolkata Knight Riders that followed, they8217;re now hot contenders for the semi-finals.

On Sunday, Mumbai will face Deccan Chargers in Hyderabad 8212; an opponent, that, with a mere two victories is currently languishing at the bottom of the table with Bangalore Royal Challengers. If Mumbai win again 8212; and Tendulkar says his team is 8220;confident8221; 8212; they will find themselves in the top-four bracket of the eight teams in fray, with four matches to go.

However, as he rightly adds, it is time for his side to do a reality check against the team that they8217;re about to face. The fact that Mumbai lost to Hyderabad at home in their first meeting hasn8217;t been lost on Tendulkar. 8220;They8217;re a good side and have a strong batting line-up,8221; says the skipper. In saying so, he needn8217;t remind one of Adam Gilchrist8217;s ferocious century at the DY Patil Stadium that had pulled out the carpet from under Mumbai8217;s feet.

This time, nevertheless, things may turn out to be different for Tendulkar8217;s team. Firstly, it is the wave of victory that they8217;ve been riding on, and the bowling department also seems to have stepped up the momentum. Led by Shaun Pollock, the top Mumbai bowlers have 8212; on an average 8212; given away a mere 6.5 runs per over in the nine matches played so far.

West Indies bowler Dwayne Bravo will play his last match today. He will be replaced from the next game by South Africa8217;s Andre Nel, who has arrived from Essex. His county allowed him to miss one match to join the IPL.