IPL Betting: Chennai Superkings v Mumbai Indians

Indian Premier League - IPL / Ed Hawkins / 03 April 2012 / Leave a Comment

Main men. Ms Dhoni and Suresh Raina are incredibly consistent peformers for Chennai

"With the toss bias in mind, it is obvious that the outsiders in this game are the value. Oddly, the outsiders are Chennai at 2.00."

The first match of the 2012 edition sees defending champions Chennai host the ever-fancied Mumbai Indians, now led by Harbhajan Singh, Both teams look very strong but the key to this match is the toss, says Ed Hawkins.

Chennai

With a record of runners-up, semi-finalists, champions, champions in the four editions of IPL, Chennai are the team to beat. In a format with a reputation for unpredictability, their dominance is extraordinary.

MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina are the key men and they are in place once more for a tantalising opener against the Mumbai Indians. Dhoni has missed only three matches in IPL history and Raina is an ever-present.

Chennai will be without Ben Hilfenhaus and Michael Hussey who are on Australia duty. Ravi Jadeja, who Chennai spent their entire purse on in the auction, is an adequate replacement as an all-action all-rounder.

Mumbai

Early turmoil for Mumbai, who are yet to win an IPL. Sachin Tendulkar has stepped down as captain and will hand over to Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan led Mumbai to Champions League glory last season when Tendulkar was unavailable.

Otherwise Mumbai are settled. They will be able to call on their entire squad throughout their campaign as none of their players have international commitments. This includes Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga.

Venue and pitch conditions

In the 2011 edition of the IPL there were nine matches played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. Eight of them were won by the side batting first. That is a hefty bias. The average first-innings score was 167.

Match odds

Chennai are an awesome prospect on their home turf and it will take a mighty effort from Mumbai to get off to a winning start. Or they could just win the toss.

With the toss bias in mind, it is obvious that the outsiders in this game are the value. Oddly, the outsiders are Chennai at [2.00]. The market is wowed by Mumbai's ability to field a team of internationals, clearly. They are narrow jollies at [1.98].

Top Chennai batsman

Dhoni averages almost 40 in IPL, which is remarkable. He has 1,425 runs over its course and is likely to be priced around [7.00]. Raina has scored 1,813 at 36.26 and is the leading runscorer overall. He is expected to go off at [4.50].

Top Mumbai batsman

All eyes on Tendulkar, of course. The Little Master will open the batting and will be around [4.00] for honours. Watch out, though, for Richard Levi who will be his opening partner. Levi is the South African who against New Zealand in Hamilton made the fastest century in Twenty20 cricket. He will be around [4.50].

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IPL Betting: Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders

Indian Premier League - IPL / Ed Hawkins / 24 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Lasith Malinga will need to be his usual economical self if Mumbai are to restrict Kolkata's in-form batsmen

"Mumbai have been a little guilty of relying too much on Sachin Tendulkar and we should expect the Knight Riders to get a foothold at some stage. Indeed, Mumbai’s form has been poor, winning only one of their previous four."

Sachin Tendulkar's Mumbai Indians were all the rage in the IPL winner market a couple of weeks ago but they're in pretty poor form right now against a team who seems to be constantly improving. Make the most of the generous price on offer about the underdogs, says Ed Hawkins.

Mumbai

James Franklin is Mumbai's gun man for this contest after a fantastic performance last time out against Kolkata. Franklin, the New Zealander, took 2-35 and then smashed 45 off 23 balls to help get Mumbai a crucial win. Lasith Malinga was wicketless in that match but at 5.25 runs per over was economical.

Kolkata

Jacques Kallis, with 59, top scored for KKR in the game against Mumbai from the No 1 position. Yusuf Pathan, the aggressive middle-order hitter, made 36 from 27 balls. Rajat Bhatia, the medium-fast bowler, took 3-22 but couldn't get KKR home.

Match odds

At 137-5 Mumbai looked beaten against KKR but Franklin and Ambati Rayudu hit back to boost Mumbai ahead of this eliminator. It was the first meeting of the sides in IPL4.

Still, it is a surprise to see such a gulf in prices on the match odds. KKR are as big as [2.36] with Mumbai [1.72]. It's very doubtful whether that is justified.

KKR finished two points behind Mumbai in the table but had a superior run rate and were more economical with the ball. Certainly they look a value back-to-lay option, particularly if they are able to make an early breakthrough with the ball.

Mumbai have been a little guilty of relying too much on Sachin Tendulkar and we should expect the Knight Riders to get a foothold at some stage. Indeed, Mumbai's form has been poor, winning only one of their previous four.

Top Kolkata runscorer

Kallis and Gautam Gambhir, with 417 and 374 runs respectively, are the main attractions in this market but we should not forget the talents of the so-called lesser lights. Manoj Tiwary has 355 runs and could be value at around [6.00]; also don't forget the hitting prowess of Ryan ten Doeschate.

Best bet: back-to-lay KKR at [2.36].

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IPL Betting: Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils

Match Previews / Richard O’Hagan / 06 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Tendulkar for top bat?

"Tendulkar will go into a game with someone else the favourite to top score in the match."

Richard O'Hagan looks forward to an intriguing contest, with Sachin Tendulkar's Indians trying to regain top spot in the IPL against a Delhi team who seem to be coming into some form at last.

Mumbai
The Indians have led the IPL almost from the outset and have been deserving of that honour. They have won both of their other games this week convincingly, but the loss of wicketkeeper Davy Jacobs to a broken finger will be a blow as it unbalances their batting.

Delhi
Delhi have scrapped their way off the bottom of the table and now have an outside chance of reaching the semi-finals. Virender Sehwag has been in blistering form, scoring 214 runs in the last week and taking the orange cap from Tendulkar.

Match Odds
Mumbai thrashed Delhi when these two teams met at the Kotla and it is hard to see any result other than an Indians win. They are simply too consistent and have too many weapons at their disposal, whereas Delhi have yet to find a settled side or a balanced bowling attack. They are becoming the very definition of a one man side, such is their reliance upon Sehwag. Back Mumbai to win at [1.6]

Top Scorer odds
Unusually, Tendulkar will go into a game with someone else the favourite to top score in the match. But although Sehwag has been in such great form, the Little Master's power is such that his Indian colleagues tend to underperform when up against him. Back him to top score at odds of around [4.7]

Best Bet
Sachin Tendulkar to top score at around [4.7]

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Kochi are two from two and Bangalore have won their last four. A couple of the IPL's form teams go head to head in Sunday's opening match.

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