As the IPL reaches a mega milestone of 1000th game on Sunday, there's a lot similar to when it all commenced, in 2008. Rajasthan Royals were not heavyweights, and yet, a wonder side that was unstoppable in that season. Champions too.
Fifteen years on, they look unstoppable again - five wins from eight games and second in the points table - the interregnum period of 14 years seeing only occasional sparks, but never as imperious as they were then in 2008 and now in 2023. Maybe, as they say about the world order, the more the league changes, the more it gets to the same position.
It is not often a visiting side to the Wankhede can be termed as favourites against the hosts - the mighty Mumbai Indians - but that is the reality of the season. The Royals, with firepower at the top of the batting order in the form of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, followed by Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmeyer, and their season's find, Dhruv Jurel, have become too hot for many a bowling attack. No wonder they are second among the teams who scored most (1476) runs in the season so far, behind CSK (1495).
It's a batting order that is in sizzling form and one that can test the best of attacks in the league. Their bowling is equally effective, with spin twins R Ashiwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, assisted by the swing and seam of Trent Boult upfront. It looks like a complete side with Samson as the skipper.
"Those guys are just confident. They are realistic, they go out and play their natural game. It has been great to come here early and I have seen the hard work that has gone in prior to the IPL start. They played with freedom and played some great innings. Yashasvi is an incredible find and the one to watch out for India as well - he has played some great knocks already," Boult, who will be back in the mix on Saturday after missing the franchise's previous game, said.
The Mumbai Indians used to be a complete side but in the past. The absence of Jasprit Bumrah and uncertainty over the availability of Jofra Archer has made it a weak-kneed bowling attack that got miserably exposed this season often, particularly in the last game in Ahmedabad, where they were hammered for over 200 runs in their last two games.
More than the runs conceded, the MI attack looking brittle in terms of personnel, having to depend on a veteran like Piyush Chawla for breakthrough and penetration has left them missing Bumrah like never before. Additionally, the batting lost its mojo suddenly, the problem starting from the very top. Rohit Sharma, the irrepressible skipper, is awfully out of form and it is not helping the Mumbai cause. So much so that Sunil Gavaskar has had to suggest that the MI skipper can do well by taking a break.
"I would like to see some change in the batting order. Honestly, I would also say that Rohit should maybe also take a break for the time being, and keep himself fit for the World Test Championship. He can come back again for the last few matches, but right now, he should take a little bit of a breather himself," Gavaskar said of Rohit, who is 28th (181 runs in seven games) among the batters of the season, not a position expected of the premier batsman of the country at the half-way stage of the IPL.
MI, however, are standing behind the skipper. "No, I don't think he (Rohit) should take rest. That's not my call to make. Obviously, we want Rohit playing, because he's a very good player, and a leader as well. If it's the best for Rohit, and he comes up to me and says that 'you know, I need a bit of a break,' then yes, we'll address that, and I'll consider that. He hasn't done that. So, yes, at the moment, if he's available to play, then he'll play," MI coach Boucher said.
With three wins from seven games, MI need all their might, Rohit and Jofra included, to fire to resuscitate their hopes in the season that seems slipping from their grasp.
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