Mumbai: The victory against Kings XI Punjab has brought them back in the play-offs mix but Mumbai Indians have no time to relax as they take on struggling Delhi Daredevils in another must-win IPL clash, here Friday
The impressive seven-wicket victory last night at Mohali, even without two of their key bowlers -- Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh -- has created slender hopes for Mumbai for a late surge into the four-team play-offs.
The return to their fortress, Wankhede Stadium, where they have suffered just one defeat in the last 11 games, spreading over to last season, would be a comforting factor for skipper Rohit Sharma.
Sharma himself exuded the belief that his side can still make the play offs after lifting themselves to the fifth spot on the table.
"Anything is possible. The important aspect is, we go back to Bombay (Mumbai), and we hope we put up the performance that is expected of us in familiar territory," Sharma said.
"I have always said that we are a capable side. It's just that we didn't do well in our first five games in the UAE," he added referring to the string of five straight defeats in the first phase of the tournament which is haunting them now.
A lot has happened since then as MI have resurrected their campaign after returning home but defeats against Chennai, their only defeat at the Wankhede in a long while, and Kolkata Knight Riders at Cuttack in their last six games have put their qualifying hopes on the razor's edge.
The holders have to win their game against the Daredevils as well as the next one on Sunday against Rajasthan Royals to take their points tally to 14, and yet may lose out if other results don't go in their favour.
The decision to hire West Indian Lendl Simmons for the home leg of the tournament seems to have worked wonders as the Trinidadian has been on a roll. He compiled the season's first century, an unbeaten 100, last night against Kings XI Punjab.
Scores of 38, 68, 12, 62 and 100 not out in his last five strikes have put the 29-year-old Simmons 20 runs short of the 300-run mark in just five games - a remarkable achievement.
