Match particulars
Punjab Kings (eighth) vs Mumbai Indians (ninth)
Mullanpur, 7:30pm IST (2pm GMT)
Massive image – The distinction between Kings and Mumbai
Punjab Kings have just one batter with greater than 150 runs this season, however he’ll miss Thursday’s recreation with a shoulder damage. Mumbai Indians, alternatively, have three over 150 and those that have fewer runs are both center and lower-order batters or have not performed sufficient video games in IPL 2024.
Mumbai’s openers have given them a kickstart: the 308 runs between Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan is the second highest for the primary wicket this yr; they’ve been separated in single-digits in solely two out of six innings, and have fifty-plus partnerships (together with 100) within the different 4. Their partnership runs have come at greater than 11 runs an over.
The Kings have not had such batting riches. Their common openers – Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow – have totalled 168 runs at solely 8.33. With Dhawan injured for his or her earlier recreation in opposition to Royals, Kings opened with Bairstow and Atharva Taide however there was not a lot enchancment.
Although Mumbai’s batting is performing a lot better than Punjab’s, they’re just under the Kings close to the underside of the desk with 4 factors from six video games. And which may be all the way down to the distinction between their bowling items this season.
Regardless of Jasprit Bumrah’s genius (10 wickets at a median of 14.60 and economic system of 6.08), Mumbai have one of many poorest performing assaults of the season: their collective common of 35.72 and economic system of 10.04 is the third worst among the many ten groups. Punjab, alternatively, have one of the best bowling common (25.20) and the fourth greatest economic system fee (8.87) this season.
Their residence venue might need one thing to do with it. Groups have struggled to begin quick in Mullanpur: the powerplay run fee of seven.11 there’s the bottom this season, which implies Rohit and Ishan can be challenged to provide Mumbai their customary fast begin on Wednesday.
Type information
PBKSLLWLL (final 5 matches, most up-to-date first)
MI LWWLL
Staff information and Affect Participant technique
Punjab Kings
Bairstow’s lean run, particularly in Mullanpur the place he has scores of 9, 0 and 15, may drive Kings to think about taking part in the South African batter Rilee Rossouw. Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma have fashioned a potent risk with the bat decrease down the order, so count on the Affect Participant techniques to be the identical: Ashutosh swapping in or out for Arshdeep Singh or Prabhsimran Singh.
Possible XII: 1 Atharva Taide, 2 Jonny Bairstow/Rilee Rossouw, 3 Prabhsimran Singh, 4 Sam Curran (capt), 5 Liam Livingstone, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Shashank Singh, 8 Harpreet Brar, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Arshdeep Singh, 12 Ashutosh Sharma
Mumbai Indians
Together with Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee is the one MI bowler to have a sub-ten economic system fee within the dying overs in IPL 2024. Mumbai have been the third-most costly facet within the part. Given they haven’t used plenty of spin, may they be tempted to herald the Sri Lankan quick bowler Nuwan Thushara for offspinning allrounder Mohammad Nabi?
Possible XII: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Tim David, 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Mohammad Nabi/ Nuwan Thushara, 9 Shreyas Gopal, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Gerald Coetzee, 12 Akash Madhwal
Within the highlight: Kagiso Rabada and Rohit Sharma
Not solely has Kagiso Rabada been among the many wickets this season for Kings, he has finished so at an economic system below eight – the primary time he has conceded lower than eight an over since IPL 2020. His 9 wickets embrace seven right-handers and Mumbai have loads of them. Rabada has been efficient within the center overs, the place he has picked up 4 wickets with an economic system of seven.33.
Rohit Sharma has been excellent for Mumbai this season. With out the burden of captaincy, he has blazed away within the powerplay and is having fun with his greatest begin to an IPL. His tally of 261 is already the very best for him within the first six matches of a season. He has additionally by no means scored quicker than his strike fee of 167.31 in IPL 2024. He has been good in opposition to tempo (strike fee of 173.63) in addition to spin (152.17) which has made him arduous to include for the opposition.
Stats that matter
Pitch and circumstances
Groups successful the toss have opted to chase in Mullanpur, and gained two out of three video games this season. The one time they misplaced, Kings fell solely two runs brief in opposition to Sunrisers Hyderabad. The pitches have largely been batting-friendly, and count on the development to proceed within the night recreation on Thursday.
Quote
“I’ve recognized Hardik for a decade, and he’s a really powerful man. One thing like that is solely going to encourage him. The best way he’s taking it to date is large and really inspiring for all of us. Seeing it every day just isn’t simple, however the man is de facto robust.”
Shreyas Gopal on how MI captain Hardik Pandya is dealing with the jeers from followers
“Brar has been our profitable bowler should you take a look at his economic system or wicket-taking capability. Final recreation, he bowled much less dot balls however Livi [Liam Livingstone] has bowled extra dot balls and brought extra wickets. Brar will come again stronger, he performs his home cricket on the identical floor. He’ll come again stronger.”
Kings spin advisor Sunil Joshi on Harpreet Brar’s kind
S Sudarshanan is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo. @Sudarshanan7
