The Lions pulled off a remarkable win against the Mumbai Indians at Mumbai. Our head-to–head record against them now stands at an impressive 6-3. Two days later, we wait for the Mumbai Indians in our den.

Last time we had come to Mohali after a win (beating KKR in Kolkata), we went on to lose the next two matches at home. The Lions need to be wary of that and make sure they don’t lose at Mohali this time. Our fielding was top notch in Mumbai; we saved at least 15-20 runs, and that is what made the difference in the end. Our bowling was good too, though the 5-over phase where Franklin and Karthik were scoring at will should be a worry for the stand-in captain. With the young lads giving a good start and Hussey and Marsh being in good nick, there is no need for any major changes in the side. The fifth bowler is a worry, and they might look at bringing in Sharma in place of Bhatt.

MI have problems galore. Malinga is fit but not enough to feature today. Franklin and Sachin looked great, so their opening is sorted, but Rohit’s inconsistency is a worry. They might look at dropping Rayudu and putting Davy Jacobs in the lower order for extra firepower. Their bowling is a big worry, as they weren’t able to contain the flow of runs. Perhaps it is time to give Ojha a look in. But with so many big stars in their line up, all they need is one person to click, and they will have the upper hand.

The stage is set for a thrilling match. Both teams absolutely need this win to keep their hopes alive. Will the Lions be able to make the most of the home advantage or will MI’s star power be too much for KXIP to overcome?