Dinesh Karthik's explosive innings blindsided Delhi Daredevils and turned Mumbai Indians' horrific start into the first 200-plus total of the season, one large enough to secure a 44-run win in their first home game. Rohit Sharma gave Karthik support at the start of their 132-run partnership, before turning it on himself at the end to help his team secure their second victory in three games.
Mumbai had lost their openers in the first nine balls of the innings - Ricky Ponting caught by Mahela Jayawardene for a duck, Sachin Tendulkar run out by Jayawardene for one - but Karthik played like a batsman who has had solid scores in his first two games of the season.
After seeing out three overs quietly, Karthik took 15 runs off an Ashish Nehra over.
He dominated the third-wicket partnership with Rohit, reaching 50 off 29 balls. Rohit was on 12 at the time. Mumbai reached 80 for 2 in 10 overs, and made it to the 100 mark in 12 overs.
Karthik went ballistic after reaching his fifty. He raced to 86 off 48 balls, taking his last 36 runs off 19 balls. He pulled the ball with glee, and his on-side play was entertaining. Karthik was perhaps the least likely among the Mumbai top four to get the orange cap, but he is now the first this season.
Rohit batted at the right pace, letting Karthik take more strike during their stand. Later he played second fiddle to Kieron Pollard and Ambati Rayudu, who blasted two fours and two sixes in his eight-ball 24. Rayudu helped Mumbai take 22 runs off the penultimate over from Irfan Pathan, who had begun the evening with a maiden over, and Rohit's final-over treatment of Nehra - 20 runs - took his team to 209 for 5.
Mumbai got off to a stunning start when they began defence of their 209 runs. Off the first ball of the innings, Ponting dived quite a distance to his right at cover to take a stunning catch to dismiss Unmukt Chand. It was the opener's second first-ball duck in the tournament, but it was also the most unlikely bowler-fielder combination. The bowler was Harbhajan Singh, who had a history of run-ins with Ponting, but now they were hugging in joy.
David Warner hit boundaries with regularity at the other end, swiftly moving to 50 off 34 balls, but frequent wickets didn't allow Daredevils to settle into a rhythm. Warner fell for 61 off 37 deliveries, and Manprit Juneja's 49 was the only other sizeable score. Rishi Dhawan's direct hit from midwicket to run out Juneja was the final act in Mumbai's impressive fielding performance.
Toss Mumbai Indians chose to bat v Delhi Daredevils
Mumbai Indians captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and decided to bat first against Delhi Daredevils in Mumbai. Ponting rated the wicket as a good one for batsmen and he will be keen on giving his team a solid start with Sachin Tendulkar.
The home side have brought in Rishi Dhawan to replace Dwayne Smith but it will be the inclusion of Lasith Malinga which will make a huge difference to their bowling attack. The Sri Lankan fast bowler has replaced Munaf Patel.
Daredevils also have their lead fast bowler back - Morne Morkel - who has come in place of Andre Russell while Jeevan Mendis and Kedar Jadhav have been included in place of Johan Botha and Naman Ojha.
It's likely to be a battle between Daredevils' pace attack and Mumbai's big-hitting batting line-up which includes not just Ponting and Tendulkar, but a host of other talented batsmen.
Mumbai Indians: Ricky Ponting (c), Sachin Tendulkar, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Kieron Pollard, Rishi Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell Johnson, Pragyan Ojha, Lasith Malinga.
Delhi Daredevils: Mahela Jayawardene (c), David Warner, Unmukt Chand, Kedar Jhadav (wk), Manprit Juneja, Morne Morkel, Jeevan Mendis, Irfan Pathan, Ashish Nehra, Shahbaz Nadeem, Umesh Yadav.
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