Star Wars: Harbhajan Singh v Brendon McCullum

Today, at the Wankhede, MI will need to stop McCullum to improve its chances of a maiden win against the Lions. And the onus will be on Harbhajan.

Harbhajan Singh and Brendon McCuullum.

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) 41 against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Friday was its lowest Powerplay score without losing a wicket at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Rohit Sharma employed his most experienced spinner, Harbhajan Singh, to stop a potential Kohli-Gayle barrage that night. Harbhajan went wicketless, but against IPL’s most dangerous opening combination, he gave away just 14 runs in the three overs he bowled during Powerplay. The 12 overs he’s bowled in the tournament so far have an economy rate of 6.08.

Brendon McCullum, barring the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad, has propelled Gujarat Lions at the start. To Imran Tahir in the last game, he showed no respect, clubbing him for 29 runs off nine balls. Twice he skipped down the track against Tahir, the world’s No. 1 T20I bowler, and despatched the ball past the boundary rope, over his head and over long-on.

Today, at the Wankhede, MI will need to stop McCullum to improve its chances of a maiden win against the Lions. And the onus will be on Harbhajan.