On Thursday evening in IPL 2024, the Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians will clash in a pivotal match, with both teams aiming to revive their flagging seasons. Positioned at the bottom half of the league standings, the two squads are separated by mere decimal points in their Net Run Rate, with Punjab slightly ahead due to a marginally better rate of -0.218, placing them just one spot above Mumbai, who sit at -0.234.
This season has been challenging for both teams, as each has suffered four defeats in their first six games. The added pressure from recent losses in their last matches will surely intensify their efforts to secure a much-needed victory. For Punjab, the task is made more daunting with the absence of their regular captain, Dhawan, who is sidelined for 'seven to 10 days' due to a shoulder injury, further complicating their campaign.
Despite these challenges, Punjab has seen some positive performances, particularly from lesser-known players like Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma. Both have consistently stepped up to compensate for the top order's failures, showcasing resilience and skill when batting lower down the order.
However, concerns remain about the form of some key players, including Prabhsimran Singh, who has scored 119 runs across six matches, averaging just 19.83. The pressure is also mounting on Jitesh Sharma, who has accumulated only 106 runs at an average of 17.66, especially with World Cup squad selections looming.
On the bowling front, Punjab will need to find more support for their international stars, Sam Curran and Kagiso Rabada, who have taken 8 and 9 wickets respectively. The domestic pair of Arshdeep Singh and Harshal Patel has struggled, often proving costly against opposing batters.
Mumbai Indians, meanwhile, are aware of their potential to change their fortunes, needing a unified team effort to achieve consistency. Their brief respite from losses with two home wins against Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore was disrupted by a defeat to Chennai Super Kings, despite a century from Rohit Sharma. This inconsistency has forced them back to strategizing anew.
A significant concern for Mumbai is the form and role of captain Hardik Pandya, particularly in the bowling department where his economy rate stands at a worrying 12. His teammates Gerald Coetzee and Akash Madhwal have also been expensive, conceding over ten runs an over.
In terms of batting, Pandya’s inability to anchor or finish innings has been a setback. Moreover, the hostile reception he has received at various stadiums this season could be impacting his performance.
For Mumbai, the form of key players like Rohit and Ishan Kishan will be critical, while Suryakumar Yadav has shown inconsistency but if the World No. 1 T20 batter comes to the party, no ground will be big enough to stop the carnage.
Team News
Punjab skipper Shikhar Dhawan will miss this game due to a shoulder injury, while Jonny Bairstow could make way for Rilee Rossouw, having made just 96 runs in his 6 matches. On the other hand, Mumbai might go in with an unchanged XI, despite losing the last game to CSK by 20 runs.
Head-to-Head record
Historically, the Punjab vs Mumbai game has been a close contest, with little to choose between their head-to-head record. The two teams have faced each other 31 times, with Mumbai leading the count with 16 wins to Punjab's 15. However, Punjab have won 3 out of their last 5 contests.
Weather Report
It should be a relatively cooler evening in Mullanpur, with temperatures expected to range between 25-28°C. There's a 10% chance of rain as well but in all likelihood, we will get a full game.
Probable XIs
PBKS Probable XI: Rilee Rossouw, Atharva Taide, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran(c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma(wk), Shashank Singh, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada (Impact sub: Ashutosh Sharma)
MI Probable XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan(wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Romario Shepherd, Shreyas Gopal, Gerald Coetzee, Jasprit Bumrah, Akash Madhwal (Impact sub: Suryakumar Yadav)
Full squads:
Punjab Kings squad: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma(wk), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Tanay Thyagarajan, Rahul Chahar, Rishi Dhawan, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Rilee Rossouw, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Chris Woakes, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Shivam Singh, Prince Choudhary, Vishwanath Singh
Mumbai Indians squad: Ishan Kishan(wk), Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya(c), Tilak Varma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Shreyas Gopal, Jasprit Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee, Akash Madhwal, Dewald Brevis, Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera, Harvik Desai, Piyush Chawla, Kwena Maphaka, Shams Mulani, Luke Wood, Arjun Tendulkar, Kumar Kartikeya, Shivalik Sharma, Nuwan Thushara, Anshul Kamboj
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