IPL 2022 LSG vs MI, 37th Match Preview: Beleaguered Mumbai's struggle to optimise resources carries on

After losing all their first seven matches, Mumbai Indians are all but out of the playoff contention.

Live Scores and Stats - IPL 2022 LSG vs MI, 37th Match

Unwanted record

The team suffered their 7th straight loss in their last match against Chennai Super Kings, losing by 3 wickets on the final ball of the match.

It is quite ironical that despite being the most successful franchise in the history of the IPL, they have become the first side to lose their first 7 matches in an IPL season. Losing 7 in a row is not a first as they turned the 11th side to hold the unwanted record.

Mumbai find their best XI

However, it was not until the last game that Mumbai Indians seemed to have found their best XI. They brought in Australian quick Riley Meredith, Indian off spin bowling all rounder Hrithik Shokeen and another Australian pacer Daniel Sams into the side and the move seemd to work. 

All the three players played their part in the clash against Chennai Super Kings. Daniel Sams was Mumbai's best bowler on show and picked up four wickets while giving away just 23 runs from his four overs.

Hrithik, Tilak impress

All rounder Hrithik Shokeen first made a run-a-ball 25 and then bowled four economical overs, giving away just 23 runs. Riley Meredith, too, was quite good, finishing with figures of 4-0-25-1.

What hurt them was wickets in the powerplay as they found themselves struggling at 47 for 4 after 7.3 overs. Tilak Verma then tried to dig Mumbai out of that hole, taking them to 155 but that did not prove to be enough at the end.

LSG doing well

Much like Gujarat Titans, Lucknow Super Giants too have been a revelation in IPL 2022, winning 4 of their 7 games as they sit in the top half despite losing their last match against Royal Challengers Bangalore by 18 runs.

KL Rahul is their in-form batter with 265 runs at 44.16. He will expect support from Quinton de Kock and Marcus Stoinis. Ravi Bishnoi, Dushmantha Chameera, Avesh Khan and Jason Holder have done a fine job for them with the ball. 

Predicted Playing XIs

Mumbai Indians - Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Daniel Sams, Hrithik Shokeen, Riley Meredith, Jaydev Unadkat, Jasprit Bumrah

Lucknow Super Giants - KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Manish Pandey, Marcus Stoinis, Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Krunal Pandya, Jason Holder, Dushmantha Chameera, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi

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