Mumbai Indians player Aaron Finch reacts after being hit by a ball during their IPL 2015 between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, Apr. 14. (Press Trust of India)

Off to a disastrous start with three successive defeats, Mumbai Indians have their task cut out as they lock horns with two-time title winners and in-form Chennai Super Kings in their Indian Premier League match in Mumbai, Apr 17. A PTI report by S.S. Ramaswamy.

The Mumbai Indians team, which has lost all three matches it played so far to remain the only side without a point in the ongoing eighth edition of the cash-rich event, are under a lot of pressure to turn things around quickly.

Back-to-back defeats to defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals have left Mumbai Indians gasping for survival.

But with the round robin stage still at its infancy, the 2013 champions can take heart from the fact that they had bounced back last year also after losing five games initially in the UAE league of IPL-7.

Skipper Rohit Sharma, at least, thinks so and said as much on the sidelines of the MI-Reliance Foundation function, Apr. 15.

“Our preparations are very good, but we are unable to execute our plans fully. Even the last time we were in a similar situation, but we came back well,” said Sharma.

Mumbai Indians' Kieron Pollard plays a shot against Rajasthan Royals during their IPL 2015 at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, Apr. 14. (Press Trust of India)
Mumbai Indians’ Kieron Pollard plays a shot against Rajasthan Royals during their IPL 2015 at the Sardar Patel Stadium in Ahmedabad, Apr. 14. (Press Trust of India)

Head coach Ricky Ponting said “as a group we are lacking a little bit in confidence at the moment.”

How well this captain-coach duo and the support staff instill the confidence into the team members would chart MI’s progress in the tournament.

In the first three games, the team failed to get off to a good start either in batting or bowling and those would be areas that need amends.

To add to the team’s woes, Australia’s Aaron Finch is set to miss the rest of the IPL due to a damaged hamstring, sustained in the last game against the Royals in Ahmedabad.

Lendl Simmons, who has warmed the bench so far, appears to be the frontrunner to take Finch’s place in the final eleven.

Harbhajan Singh, who put up a sterling show with both bat and ball in the home game against Kings XI, missed the following game against the Royals due to a crick in his neck.

But the off-spinner said that he should be able to take the field against the Super Kings.

Another encouraging news for MI is the form shown by hard-hitting West Indian Kieron Pollard in the previous match.

He smashed the Royals’ bowling around, hitting huge sixes in his inimitable style. He and Corey Anderson are the two key all-rounders for the team.