MUMBAI: When Mumbai Indians chased down 221 in their IPL opener against Kolkata Knight Riders, it snapped a 13-season jinx of losing their first match. For once, MI appeared to have ditched their familiar slow start.Three straight defeats later, that optimism has evaporated. Questions are now being asked about whether this star-studded line-up can keep pace with modern T20 batting.The challenge looks even steeper if Rohit Sharma misses Thursday’s clash against Punjab Kings. Rohit retired hurt against Royal Challengers Bengaluru with a hamstring issue. He underwent scans on Monday and arrived for training late on match eve with both hamstrings heavily strapped. He did bat in the nets though, but looked uncomfortable. If he misses out, it will force a reshuffle at the top, further unsettling an already fragile batting unit against a PBKS side brimming with confidence.Mumbai’s batting issues have been most visible in their last two chases. In the rain-curtailed match against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati, openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal blazed away at a strike rate of 240. MI couldn’t match that tempo. The pattern was on display again at home against RCB. Phil Salt, Rajat Patidar and Tim David all struck at over 200 while MI’s top five managed a best strike rate of just 181.8.Sherfane Rutherford provided late resistance with an unbeaten 31-ball 71 at a strike rate of 229 but the target was already out of reach.
