Will Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians?

Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians are very closely matched as they head into their IPL 2024 campaigns. Both teams are placed seventh and eighth respectively in the standings, separated only by a small decimal-point difference in their net run rates (NRR). Both teams have four points each from six games and are eager to accumulate more points as they reach the halfway mark of the season. Coming off last-over defeats, MI had a moment of regained momentum before being defeated by CSK, despite Rohit Sharma’s first IPL century in 12 years.Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians

Both teams have a standout pacer who has lacked consistent support from the other end. Jasprit Bumrah (ER 6.08) has been difficult for opponents to handle, even on wicketless days, while PBKS have Kagiso Rabada (ER 7.95) returning to top form, which has made opponents cautious. Both teams have a couple of batters carrying much of the weight for the side. For Punjab, it’s the uncapped duo of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma who have been stepping up at the end to save the team, while MI relies on its experienced opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan for strong starts.Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians

MI is the third-best team in PowerPlays in IPL 2024, averaging 48 runs with a run rate of 10.67, and holding the second-highest boundary percentage at 29.2. They have also hit the most sixes (23) in this phase.Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians

However, the next track might not be as high-scoring as previous home games for Mumbai. This makes a strong start from MI openers essential for the team’s chances of returning to winning ways, especially considering Hardik Pandya’s inconsistent form and Suryakumar Yadav’s mixed season after his injury.

On the other hand, Punjab’s top-order struggles are well known. Their top-three have scored just 382 runs, the lowest in IPL 2024, with their only 50+ score coming from captain Shikhar Dhawan. His shoulder injury has further worsened PBKS’ batting problems. Despite unfavorable results, Punjab has maintained consistency in their lineup, backing players such as Prabhsimran Singh, Jonny Bairstow, and Jitesh Sharma to perform. With better knowledge of the new home ground’s conditions, PBKS hopes their top-order will improve to turn their season around. Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians

When: PBKS vs MI, Match 33 on April 18 at 19:30 hours

Where: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh

What to expect: Dew has not played a significant role at this venue, but captains have preferred chasing. Pacers are expected to play a key role in the favorable conditions.

Head-to-Head: Mumbai has a slight edge over Punjab with a 16-15 record in their 31 meetings. Since 2020, their contests have been tightly fought, with MI leading 4-3.

Punjab Kings

Injuries & Availability: Dhawan is unavailable for at least the next two games in Mullanpur, while Jitesh Sharma, despite receiving a blow to the forehead and needing over a dozen stitches, appears fit to continue.Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians

Tactics & Matchups: Hardik Pandya’s struggles with the ball, where his economy of 12 is the second-worst among bowlers with 10+ overs this season, could make him an easy target for Punjab’s finishers. Shashank Singh has a strike rate of 205.36 against pacers in this IPL, while Ashutosh Sharma has consistently struck above 182 in his three knocks.Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians

Probable XI:

• Jonny Bairstow
• Atharva Taide
• Sam Curran (C)
• Liam Livingstone
• Jitesh Sharma (wk)
• Shashank Singh
• Ashutosh Sharma
• Harpreet Brar
• Harshal Patel
• Arshdeep Singh
• Kagiso Rabada
• [Impact sub: Prabhsimran Singh/Rahul Chahar]

Mumbai Indians

Injuries & Availability: No major injury concerns for MI.

Tactics & Matchups: Suryakumar Yadav’s rivalry with Sam Curran is growing, as the MI batter has been successful against the PBKS captain, scoring 52 runs in just 20 balls at a strike rate of 260, while conceding his wicket only once. However, Suryakumar faces a challenging matchup against Rabada, averaging just over 18 and losing his wicket three times to the South African speedster .Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians

Probable XI:

• Rohit Sharma
• Ishan Kishan (wk)
• Tilak Varma
• Hardik Pandya (C)
• Tim David
• Mohammad Nabi
• Romario Shepherd
• Shreyas Gopal
• Gerald Coetzee
• Jasprit Bumrah
• Akash Madhwal
• [Impact sub: Suryakumar Yadav]

Did you know?

• Rohit Sharma will be the second player after MS Dhoni to play 250 IPL matches.
• MI has lost both their away games this season: by six runs against GT in Ahmedabad and by 31 runs against SRH in Hyderabad.
• PBKS has made the fewest changes (4 in six matches) among all the teams so far in IPL 2024.

What They Said:

• “It’s time for our top-order to take responsibility. We’ve discussed the areas we need to focus on to score runs. Also, this wicket poses a challenge for all batters, unlike other wickets in India. Visiting batters face a unique challenge due to the different composition of the pitch, which gives us an advantage,” said Sunil Joshi, PBKS spin bowling coach, regarding the top-order concerns .Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians.
• “From over 10 years of experience and friendship with him, I can say he’s incredibly tough. This situation only motivates him further. His attitude so far has been inspiring for all of us. It’s not easy, but he’s strong and one of the toughest individuals in the world,” said Shreyas Gopal about MI captain Hardik Pandya’s response to criticism and booing.Punjab Kings get a third wing against Mumbai Indians.more
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