1. Overview
2 Sides with similar performance this season – 6 matches, 2 Wins and 4 Losses and even the NRR very close to each other (PBKS: -0.218 & MI: -0.234) are set to lock horns in the 33rd Match of the Season. As they are set to complete half the number of matches, both the sides would want to register their 3rd win and bring themselves into a better position. The side that loses this match would have 5 losses already and will be left with much more to do in the 2nd half of the season.
2. Team Previews
Head-to-Head Record: 31 Matches, MI: 16 Wins and PBKS: 15 Wins
Punjab Kings: The Home Side is entirely running on the bowlers as Rabada, Arshdeep and Curran have picked a combined 26 Wickets for them, but their batters have been disappointing this season. Shikhar Dhawan, who missed their last match due to a niggle, has scored just 152 Runs in the 5 innings going past 50, just once. What makes PBKS Batting look terrible is the fact that Dhawan is their highest run scorer so far, despite these low numbers. Such is the situation. Though Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh are looking promising.
Mumbai Indians: The results might be underwhelming for them but its very difficult to pinpoint their area of weakness. Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Verma and Tim David have done decently so far in the batting department while Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee have handled the bowling department well. The Weakest Link in the lineup is their New Skipper Hardik Pandya, who is neither scoring runs nor maintaining a healthy Strike Rate. His bowling too hasn’t been impressive as he has dismissed just 3 batsmen while leaking runs at an economy rate of 12.00.
3. Probable Teams
Punjab Kings:
Starting XI: Shikhar Dhawan (C), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh
Impact List: Rahul Chahar, Ashutosh Sharma, Vidwath Kaverappa, Harpreet Bhatia, Nathan Ellis
Mumbai Indians:
Starting XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya (C), Tim David, Romario Shephard, Mohammad Nabi, Shreyas Gopal, Gerald Coetzee, Jasprit Bumrah
Impact List: Akash Madhwal, Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera, Dewald Brevis, Harvik Desai
4. Interesting Facts
This match will be played on the 16th Anniversary of IPL as First Ever Match of IPL was played on 18th April 2008.
This will be 250th IPL Match for Rohit Sharma (45 for Deccan Charges & 205 for Mumbai Indians), He is only the 2nd player to reach the milestone after MS Dhoni.
Shikhar Dhawan (985) needs just 15 Runs to complete 1000 Runs for Punjab Kings
Tilak Verma (914) needs 86 more runs to complete 1000 Runs in IPL
Among all the batsmen that have batted against Mumbai Indians, Shikhar Dhawan has the Most Runs – 901.
Kagiso Rabada is just 1 Wicket away from Completing 250 T20 Wickets
Punjab Kings will be facing their All Time Highest Wicket Taker - Piyush Chawla, who has 84 Wickets with them.
5. Pitch Report
Unlike all other grounds, Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium is a bowling friendly wicket that aids Pacers, though it might have something for spinners as well. The Average First Innings Total is 168 in the first 3 matches played here this season.
Though, Toss wouldn’t matter much as all 3 matches remained highly competitive as all of them went to the final over, team winning the toss would prefer to chase.
6. Match Details
Time: 7:30 PM
Date: 18th April 2024
Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
7. Dream XI
