IPL 2014: Punjab enjoying dream run, Mumbai hope to escape agony

Zee Media Bureau/Chaitan Papnai

New Delhi: Kings XI Punjab, who are eyeing for their maiden Indian Premier League title have started off their campaign on an incredible note by winning all their five matches on the bounce. However, on the other hand, defending champions Mumbai Indians have lost all their five matches of the UAE leg. In Punjab`s first three matches, Australian Glenn Maxwell and South African David Miller stole all the limelight by their swashbuckling batting and in the last two it was their bowlers who gave match-wining performances. Under the captaincy of Australian Twenty20 skipper, George Bailey, the team has emerged as a force to reckon with. In both the departments – batting and bowling – the team is looking quite well balanced. If Punjab is on a winning streak, then Rohit Sharma led side, Mumbai Indians have struggled to perform as the title holders, thus far. Though the team has a solid batting line up with batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Mike Hussey, Corey Anderson and Kieron Pollard at their disposal, but they have failed to fire in unison. Mumbai need all these big hitters to contribute if they want to end their winless-streak. When it comes to their bowling department, slinger, Lasith Malinga has been performing exceptionally well but even he needs assistance from the two senior Indian bowlers, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh, to turn the tables around. MI`s need their batsmen and bowlers to lift their performance if they really want to defend their title successfully. Punjab are right at the top of the point tables with five consecutive wins, whereas, Mumbai are at the bottom as they are still struggling with their team combination. But as the UAE-leg of the League is over, Mumbai would be expecting that their fortunes will take a U-turn.