In the IPL 2021 match number five, the Kolkata Knight Riders square off against Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. It is the second game of this tournament for both the sides. While KKR got off to a winning start, MI lost their first game of the season for the ninth time in a row.
Powerplay and top-order batting was one of the issues for KKR in the 2020 season. However, they made a solid start on that front in the first game as Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill helped KKR get off to a solid start. Rahul Tripathi came out on the attack, and alongside Rana, he smashed the SRH bowlers to help KKR get to 187 before a good bowling performance earned them a 10-run win.
The only issue for KKR was that the middle-order couldn’t come to the party. The likes of Andre Russell and Eoin Morgan couldn’t get going. But it’s just one game, and with much more game time, KKR will hope that their international stars get better.
On the other hand, MI’s first-game woes continued. Their top-order started well and created a solid base as well. However, the famed and power-packed middle-order couldn’t really drive home the advantage and they collapsed. The fast bowlers did well and kept MI in the hunt but couldn’t take them over the line.
This loss won’t worry MI a lot. They are a quality side, and they know how to bounce back strongly. In fact, the five-time champions have all bases covered as well and barely seem to have any weakness in their armour. In fact, over the last couple of seasons, MI have never lost two games on the bounce in the IPL. Hence, Rohit Sharma and co will be looking to bounce back.
Key Players
Andre Russell didn’t have a big role to play in KKR’s win in the first game against SRH. However, the impact he can have is remarkable. The hard-hitting Jamaican all-rounder hasn’t been in the best of forms in the last few months and couldn’t get going in the 2020 season of the IPL either. However, Russell’s form is crucial to KKR’s chances, and if they are to end the MI drought, the two-time champions need Russell to fire. KKR’s only win against MI in the last 12 games has come when Russell fire (scored 80 in 2019).
Varun Chakravarthy had a quiet start to this IPL season. However, he was their star bowler in the 2020 edition as he picked up 17 wickets in 13 games at an economy rate of 6.84. The mystery spinner kept things tight and constantly pegged away with wickets. He is KKR’s premier spinner this season, and with the power-packed MI batting line-up, Chakravarthy’s role in the middle overs will be critical.
Rohit Sharma was looking in solid touch at the top of the order in the first game for MI. He scored 19 off 15 balls but was run out. Moreover, the MI skipper has a fabulous record against KKR as he has amassed 939 runs at an average of 46.95. Hence, Rohit will be the key for his side at the top on what is expected to be a sluggish pitch at the Chepauk. If he can give a flying start, there may be no looking back for MI.
Year after year, season after season, Jasprit Bumrah continues to show why he is one of the best in the business. Every time MI or India are in trouble and are in search of a wicket, Bumrah is summoned, and he invariably delivers. Since the start of 2016, the ace MI fast bowler has picked up at least 15 wickets every season. He has started the 2021 edition superbly, as well as he returned with figures of 2/26 from his four overs, picking up the key wickets of Virat Kohli and Daniel Christian. In fact, it was Bumrah who turned the game and brought MI back in that first game. Thus, he will once again be the key.
Prediction
Mumbai Indians have an overwhelming record against Kolkata Knight Riders. These two sides have squared off 27 times in the history of the IPL, and the five-time champions have beaten Kolkata in as many as 21 games. In fact, in the last 12 encounters between MI and KKR, MI have won 11 of those games, with KKR winning just one, which came in 2019.
Thus, there is absolutely no doubt that MI will start as favourites. In addition to that, KKR just haven’t been able to get past MI regularly and have struggled consistently against them. However, Eoin Morgan and his men will hope they can build on their good start, and they can capitalize on MI’s tendency to start off slowly.
