IPL 2016: Fantasy Championship guide MI v GL

Mumbai Indians vs Gujarat Lions

Again, don’t let your judgment about this match be clouded by what you saw at the Wankhede last time round. The ball did seam around a bit but The Rising Pune Supergiants showed us that if you just stay at the wicket for some time, stroke making is as simple as it always has been.

Gujarat Lions will be without Jaddu for this game he has his wedding on Sunday.

Mumbai Indians would welcome Martin Guptill and he would straightaway walk into that opening batsman’s slot left vacant by Simmons’ injury.

I already have Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh and Jasprit Bumrah in my side for this game.

Get in all the big hitters that you can and try and avoid selecting bowlers. My first pick would be Rohit Sharma. Flat batting wicket, home ground, coming off a brilliant innings; enough said.

Now, if Mumbai Indians bat first, I will go for Jos Buttler as he’ll get enough time in the middle to make a significant impact but if Mumbai bat second and Gujarat Lions somehow end up getting a paltry score, the openers could end up doing the bulk of the scoring. And thus, in this case, I go for Martin Guptill.

Brendon McCullum can’t be ignored on a flat wicket and though he hasn’t been as destructive as Finch in the last two games, I feel this is the match where he’ll be announcing his IPL arrival. Also, if you opt for Guptill, you anyway will have to go for McCullum as there has to be at least one wicketkeeper in your side.

I go for Pravin Tambe as my uncapped player because of his performance in the last game.

Dwayne Bravo doesn’t make it to my side as his bowling wouldn’t be that effective on a flat Wankhede wicket and while batting he could find it difficult against Mumbai’s experienced bowling lineup.

Batting captain: Jos Buttler(if Mumbai bat first)/Rohit Sharma (if Mumbai bat second)

Bowling captain: Jasprit Bumrah