Mumbai Indians, after suffering two consecutive defeats, return home to face the Rajasthan Royals, who currently boast four points in their tally. Reflecting on their head-to-head encounters, Mumbai has notably dominated Rajasthan in their recent encounters, triumphing in four out of their last five meetings, with Rajasthan securing victory only once.
Probable XI:
Mumbai Indians: Ishan Kishan (WK), Rohit Sharma, Naman Dhir, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Tim David, Gerald Coetzee, Shams Mulani, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah, Kwena Maphaka.
Impact Players: Dewald Brevis, Akash Madhwal.
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson (C & WK), Riyan Parag, Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, Avesh Khan.
Impact Players: Rovman Powell, Nandre Burger.
Mumbai enters this match carrying the weight of one of their most dismal experiences, having conceded the highest ever total of 277 runs against SRH in their recent encounter. Despite falling short of victory, Mumbai Indians provided enough excitement to keep Sunrisers fans on edge, with the game tethering on the brink of a dramatic climax at one point. However, the composed Sunrisers bowlers held their nerve, ensuring Mumbai's defeat. Nevertheless, Mumbai can take solace in several positives from the match.
Rohit Sharma's consistent run-scoring displays in both preceding matches, Ishant Kishan's explosive start, the emergence of Naman Dhir as a standout performer, Tilak's fearless half-century, and David's adept finishing touches - all serve as beacons of promise. Moreover, Jasprit Bumrah's unwavering reliability stands as a pillar of consistency in Mumbai's bowling lineup. Mumbai will be eager to put the past behind, they now turn their sights to their home ground, seeking solace and hoping to regroup and revive their spirits for tonight's game.
Rajasthan Royals, on the other hand, have had a terrific start to their campaign, having won both the games, they have done no wrong. While their opening partnership is yet to hit its stride, the middle order has emerged as a pillar of stability, with Riyan Parag seamlessly slotting into the number 4 position. Amassing 127 runs at an astonishing average of 127 and a dazzling strike rate of 171.62. Credits to the team management for instilling faith in him, a decision that appears to be bearing fruit. It seems destined to be a breakout season for him.
As far as the bowling department is concerned, the impact player Nandre Burger has left an indelible mark on both encounters, his contributions pivotal to the team's success. Meanwhile, the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and R Ashwin have shouldered the responsibility of bowling tight middle overs bolstering the team's prospects. The allure of the high-scoring Wankhede Stadium may prompt tactics changes to their playing XI, potentially beckoning the inclusion of Rovman Powell. Interesting to see how they come up against Mumbai Indians tonight.
Weather and pitch report: With the humidity level rising from 58 to 77 percent, it promises to be a muggy affair for both teams near the western coast. Temperatures will fluctuate from 30 degrees Celsius at the 7:30 PM IST start time of the game to 27 degrees Celsius by the match's conclusion.
It's expected to be a high-scoring game because the pitch is fresh and the boundaries are shorter. Fast bowlers might do well in the first couple of overs, but after that, it's likely to be tough for bowlers. Teams winning the toss will probably choose to bowl first because dew could make it harder to bowl in the second innings. So, we can look forward to another game with lots of runs scored.
Interesting stats and facts:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal needs 1 six to complete 50 sixes in IPL.
- Sanju Samson needs 15 runs to complete 4000 IPL runs.
- Jos Buttler needs 1 six to complete 150 IPL sixes.
- Ravi Ashwin will be playing his 200th IPL game tonight.
- Jasprit Bumrah needs 2 wickets to complete his 150 IPL wickets.
Match details:
Time: 7.30 PM (IST)
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Live Broadcast: Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: Jio Cinema app
Predicted Dream XI:
Jos Buttler (captain)
Sanju Samson
Ishan Kishan
Rohit Sharma
Tilak Varma
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Hardik Pandya (VC)
Riyan Parag
Naman Dhir
Trent Boult
Jasprit Bumrah
