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Mumbai Indians (MI) will lock horns against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 51 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 on Friday (May 2) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Mumbai’s confidence may have taken a hit following their recent loss to Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), where they were defeated by four wickets. Conversely, Kolkata are likely to be buoyed by their convincing seven-wicket victory over Delhi Capitals (DC).
MI vs KKR: Head-to-Head records:
- Since the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008, MI and KKR have locked horns a total of 32 times.
- Their encounters have been characterized by fierce competition, with MI holding a monstrous lead, securing victory in 23 matches, while KKR have notched up nine wins.
- Over their recent five encounters, KKR have maintained the dominance, with victorious in three games each.
- At the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, MI have historically dominated, boasting a clear edge with ten victories compared to KKR’s 1.
Mumbai Indians (MI) Overview:
Mumbai Indians have noticeably declined from their former status as champions and dominant contenders. Despite commendable performances from other batters, their key asset, Suryakumar Yadav, has struggled to make an impact with the bat, except for notable innings against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). In his four outings, Yadav has failed to surpass single-digit scores. On the bowling front, the team heavily relies on the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah to turn the tide in their favor.
MI’s probable playing XI for the IPL game against KKR:
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Rohit Sharma
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya (c)
- Tim David
- Nehal Wadhera
- Gerald Coetzee
- Piyush Chawla
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Nuwan Thushara
A closer look:
- Kishan takes the gloves behind the stumps, providing stability and firepower to the batting lineup. Rohit and Suryakumar form a formidable top-order alongside Kishan, capable of setting the tone with explosive starts.
- Varma adds solidity to the middle order, complemented by the leadership and all-round skills of Hardik. David’s finishing abilities add depth to the batting lineup, while Wadhera offers additional stability in the middle order.
- In the bowling department, Coetzee, Bumrah and Thushara lead the pace attack with their raw pace and ability to extract bounce. Chawla provides spin options, using his experience and variations to trouble opposition batters. Together, this well-balanced Mumbai squad possesses the firepower to challenge any opposition in the IPL.
Also READ: IPL 2024: Salary of Mumbai Indians (MI) players; check out how much Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma earn
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Overview:
KKR have been in exceptional form throughout the tournament, currently holding the second position in the standings. With six victories from nine matches, they have demonstrated remarkable consistency and will be determined to sustain their momentum in their upcoming showdown against Mumbai.
KKR’s probable playing XI for the IPL 2024 game against MI:
- Phil Salt
- Sunil Narine
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi
- Shreyas Iyer
- Venkatesh Iyer
- Andre Russell
- Rinku Singh
- Mitchell Starc
- Harshit Rana
- Vaibhav Arora
- Varun Chakravarthy
Squad Characteristics:
Salt kickstarts the innings with aggressive intent, while Narine adds fireworks at the top with his explosive batting. Raghuvanshi contributes stability to the middle order, alongside the classy Shreyas. Venkatesh’s all-round abilities bolster the team’s balance. Russell’s destructive hitting prowess is unmatched, while Rinku provides support in the lower middle order. In the bowling department, Starc leads the attack with his express pace, supported by the emerging talents of Harshit and Vaibhav. Chakravarthy’s mystery spin, alongside Narine, adds an extra dimension to the bowling lineup.
