The 33rd match of the ongoing IPL 2024 is set to witness a showdown between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Thursday, April 18.
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PBKS vs MI: Match Preview
Both teams enter this match on the heels of recent losses. PBKS suffered a defeat in a nail-biting encounter against Rajasthan, while Mumbai Indians faltered in the El Clásico against Chennai Super Kings. With playoff aspirations at stake, both sides aim to elevate their performance in the upcoming game.
Punjab Kings find themselves with only one batsman having surpassed 150 runs this season, but he will be sidelined for Thursday’s match due to a shoulder injury. Conversely, Mumbai Indians boast three batsmen with over 150 runs each, with those lagging behind either occupying middle to lower-order slots or having played fewer IPL 2024 games.
Mumbai’s opening pair, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan, have provided impetus, amassing 308 runs, the second-highest partnership for the first wicket this season. They’ve maintained a solid partnership, with just two single-digit dismissals in six innings, and have notched up fifty-plus stands (including a century) in the remaining four. Their partnership runs have come at an impressive rate of over 11 runs per over.
In contrast, Punjab Kings have struggled for batting depth. Their regular openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Jonny Bairstow, have managed just 168 runs at an average of 8.33. With Dhawan sidelined in their previous match against the Royals, Kings experimented with Bairstow and Atharva Taide at the top, but failed to significantly improve their performance.
The disparity extends to the number of sixes as well. Mumbai leads with 67 sixes this season, while Kings’ tally of 44 is among the lowest. Notably, in the powerplay, Mumbai’s 23 sixes sharply contrast with Punjab’s four.
Despite Mumbai’s stronger batting lineup, they find themselves just below Kings near the bottom of the table with four points from six games. This discrepancy could be attributed to the differing performances of their bowling units this season.
Despite the brilliance of Jasprit Bumrah (10 wickets at an average of 14.60 and an economy of 6.08), Mumbai’s bowling unit has been one of the least effective this season, with a collective average of 35.72 and an economy of 10.04, ranking third worst among all teams. In contrast, Punjab boasts the best bowling average (25.20) and the fourth-best economy rate (8.87) this season.
The dynamics might shift at their home venue. Teams have struggled to accelerate in Mullanpur, with the powerplay run rate of 7.11 being the lowest this season. This poses a challenge for Rohit and Ishan to provide Mumbai with their usual rapid start on Thursday.
PBKS vs MI: Pitch Report & Conditions
The Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur is renowned for its balanced pitch, offering opportunities for both batsmen and bowlers alike. Captains winning the toss might prefer to bat first, aiming to set a substantial target.
Historically, teams winning the toss have opted to chase in Mullanpur, with a success rate of two wins out of three games this season. The only loss occurred when Kings narrowly fell short by just two runs against Sunrisers Hyderabad. The pitches have predominantly favored batsmen, and this trend is expected to continue in the evening fixture on Thursday.
PBKS vs MI: Head-to-head
- Matches Played: 31
- Punjab Kings won: 14
- Mumbai Indians Won: 16
- No Result: 01
- First Played: April 25, 2008
- Last Played: May 3, 2023
PBKS vs MI: Team News and Impact Player Strategy
Punjab Kings
Jonny Bairstow’s recent form, particularly in Mullanpur where he has posted scores of 9, 0, and 15, might prompt Kings to consider including the South African batsman Rilee Rossouw. Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma have emerged as strong contributors with the bat in the lower order. Therefore, anticipate the Impact Player strategy to remain consistent: Ashutosh potentially swapping in or out for Arshdeep Singh or Prabhsimran Singh.
Predicted XII:
- Atharva Taide
- Jonny Bairstow/Rilee Rossouw
- Prabhsimran Singh
- Sam Curran (capt)
- Liam Livingstone
- Jitesh Sharma (wk)
- Shashank Singh
- Harpreet Brar
- Harshal Patel
- Kagiso Rabada
- Arshdeep Singh
- Ashutosh Sharma
Mumbai Indians
In addition to Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee stands out as the only MI bowler with a sub-ten economy rate in the death overs during IPL 2024. Mumbai has ranked as the third-most expensive side in this phase. Considering their limited use of spin, there might be temptation to introduce the Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Thushara in place of the offspinning all-rounder Mohammad Nabi.
Predicted XII:
- Rohit Sharma
- Ishan Kishan (wk)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya (capt)
- Tim David
- Romario Shepherd
- Mohammad Nabi/Nuwan Thushara
- Shreyas Gopal
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Gerald Coetzee
- Akash Madhwal
PBKS vs MI: Match Prediction
Scenario 1:
- Punjab Kings win the toss and bat
- Power Play score: 45-55
- First Innings Score: 150-170
- Mumbai Indians win the match
Scenario 2:
- Mumbai Indians win the toss and bat
- Power Play score: 60-70
- First Innings Score: 180-190
- Mumbai Indians win the match
PBKS vs MI: Dream 11 Fantasy Prediction
Team 1:
- Keeper: Ishan Kishan
- Batsmen: Rohit Sharma (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Shashank Singh
- All-rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran (vc), Hardik Pandya
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada
Team 2:
- Keeper: Ishan Kishan
- Batsmen: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- All-rounders: Mohammad Nabi, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Hardik Pandya
- Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah (vc), Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coatzee
When and Where to Watch the Match: Streaming & Broadcast Details
What: Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Mumbai Indians (MI) IPL 2024
When: 7:30 PM IST, Thursday– April 18
Where: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
Where to watch PBKS vs MI Live Streaming: JioCinema app for FREE
Where to watch PBKS vs MI Live Telecast: Star Sports
