A litmus test awaits at Wankhede. It is going to be a battle between the batsmen of both the sides on a track that offers a great assistance for the batsman. Both the teams head into the game with a contrast aim. The hosts, Mumbai Indians will go for nothing short of a victory while Kolkata Knight Riders look to strengthen their position for Playoffs.
Mumbai Indians: A Must-win encounter
Rohit Sharma-led side got back to their own in the previous encounter when they outsmarted Kings XI Punjab at Indore. Now, they head back to the land where conditions are a bread and butter for the players. They would like to make the most of the opportunity in their road to the playoffs. It seems like they finally found their right combination to secure a victory in any situation.
The form of Evin Lewis has been a cause of worry for the home side as he has become a hit or miss kind of a player. However, they would persist with him as he can take away the game on his day with ease. Hardik Pandya appears to found his Midas touch while Krunal Pandya joined the party with his willow. Rohit Sharma is playing as a floater in the team which is a huge boost for the side.
All in all, the batting department has got their form back while the real concern appears in the death bowling. Though Jasprit Bumrah got back to his own, the other bowlers in the unit need to hand their services in order to come good against the likes of Chris Lynn, Narine and Uthappa who can Wreck havoc on their day.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Eyes to spoil the Mumbai’s party
The last game win against Chennai Super Kings would have given them a great confidence to make a progress in the tourney. Dinesh Karthik-led side is playing a top-notch cricket and seems like they found their winning combination.
Though Nitish Rana has been out of the game in the last encounter, the young sensation, Shubman Gill rose to the occasion to give his side a much-needed knock in the chase. Chris Lynn and Narine found their feet while the knock from Uthappa is something which hasn’t come to the fore.
Coming to the bowling department, they are heavily reliant on their spin department and would once again ask them to throw the crucial spells against star-studded Mumbai Indians. The young Shivam Mavi is impressive but Johnson hasn’t made anything remarkable yet.
However, they would love to secure a win at Wankhede to spoil the Mumbai Indians’ hopes of making a grand turnaround.
Possible Playing XI:
MI: Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, JP Duminy, Ben Cutting, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah.
KKR: Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Rinku Singh/Nitish Rana, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik (c&wk), Shubman Gill, Andre Russell, Shivam Mavi, Piyush Chawla, Mitchell Johnson/Tom Curran, Kuldeep Yadav.
When & Where to watch:
Date & Time – 6th May 2018, 16:00 IST
Venue – Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Live Telecast – Star Sports Network, Jio and Hotstar Premium customers