Mumbai's merciless attitude, a worry for their opponents

Clearly, MI are looking beyond the league games. As goes the famous line in sports, 'keep a good team down when it is down'.

MI's focus seems to have shifted now to strategising for the semis and since they are in a position to influence which teams will fill the other three semi-final spots, they are taking full advantage.

It will be wise to knock off a strong team like DD when they can and the win over them yesterday has put the Gautam Gambhir-led side's chances of making the last four in jeopardy.

DD may have been inconsistent this season, but they are among the most feared opponents in the IPL. Well-balanced and packed with match-winners like Virender Sehwag, David Warner, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dinesh Karthik, AB de Villiers and Paul Collingwood, they are a team against whom you never start as clear favourites.

One reason for their inconsistency has been injuries to key players like Gautam Gambhir, Dirk Nannes, Ashish Nehra and Tillakaratne Dilshan at different stages of the tournament.

MI would also have wanted to ensure Delhi do not qualify for the semis as they are expected to have a fit squad by the semi-final stage.

Nehra is returning to match fitness and played the last two games, Nannes has started bowling in the nets while Dilshan has recovered from illness.

They have a record to match their reputation. They were semi-finalists in both editions and last year in South Africa, DD topped the league stage by a huge margin.

After yesterday's defeat, DD are on 12 points and have to win both their remaining matches. But, it will be easier said than done. Delhi first play Chennai Super Kings in Chennai and in the last game take on Deccan Chargers at home.

Super Kings have won four matches in a row at the Chidambaram Stadium while Chargers always had Delhi's number. Chargers knocked them off in last year's semis and in the first leg, they beat DD by 10 runs.

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