Things just seem to go from bad to worse for the Mumbai Indians, who now find themselves at the foot of the 2015 Pepsi Indian Premier League (IPL), after their latest defeat, against the Delhi Daredevils.
Not only are they propping up the table, but they have also received the news that their New Zealand all-rounder, Corey Anderson, who is capable of some of the most destructive hitting in the tournament, has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament. News that has come ahead of what appears to be a must win game on Saturday at their own Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai against the Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Mumbai had already lost another international star for the duration of the 2015 tournament, when Australian Aaron Finch was forced to return home with a damaged hamstring.
Anderson had missed Mumbai’s game against the Royal Challengers Bangalore, coincidentally the only game that they have won this season, and it now transpires that his minor finger fracture requires him to return to New Zealand for treatment.
Anderson had already proven his worth to the team with two fifties already to his name, and 114 runs at an average of just under 40.
The Indians suffered a 37 run defeat on Thursday at the Delhi Daredevils, as their back up bowlers failed to support the likes of Lasith Malinga who finished with 1 for 23 from his four overs, and Harbhajan Singh who delivered his four overs for 34 runs.
No one else had an economy rate of better than 9.5 runs per over, as Delhi posted 190 for 4 from their 20 overs.
The Sunrisers stunned the Kolkata Knight Riders in their latest outing, winning by 18 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method. But in truth their captain, David Warner’s innings of 91 from just 55 balls, with nine fours and four sixes was worthy of winning any match.