IPL Preview: Listless RCB face strong MI

All but out of contention for the playoffs, Royal Challengers Bangalore would look to salvage a difficult season by sorting out their batting woes when they take on Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League match here on Monday.

Mumbai are on the second spot in the IPL standings with 14 points, while Bangalore are second from bottom after having won just two of their 10 games.

Mumbai Indians have won seven of their nine games so far and are in contention to make it to the play-offs.

When the two sides meet at the Wankhede stadium, the hosts will have a distinct upper-hand as they have just lost one game at the venue.

The form of opener Parthiv Patel, who scored a 70 against Gujarat Lions, will please the Mumbai Indians management.

Parthiv will like to continue from where he left in the last game and he, along with Englishman Jos Buttler, would like to give the team a flying start.

Mumbai won their match against Gujarat Lions in a super over after both the teams were tied at 153, and they would like to dominate Royal Challengers Bangalore right from the word go.

They would except their batters Patel, Buttler, skipper Rohit Sharma, Nitesh Rana and the Pandya brothers -- Krunal and Hardik -- to fire in unison.

Mumbai will also like to get back to winning ways at the Wankhede as they lost their last match against Rising Pune Supergiant.

As far as their bowling is concerned, the comeback of Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga, who picked up two wickets last night, will please coach Shane Bond. The biggest positive for Mumbai has been their death overs bowling, courtesy Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya. Krunal and seasoned off spinner Harbhajan Singh have been effective and the team management would like all these bowlers to restrict the RCB batting line-up. Skipper Virat Kohli's half-century in the previous match against Rising Pune Supergiant was the only bright spot of their performance on Saturday night.