The runners-up of the previous edition, KKR have got off to a great start in the ongoing Indian Premier League season. Five-time winners MI, on the other hand, are yet to open their account. The two teams are set to lock horns in the match no. 14 of the IPL 2022 at the MCA Stadium on April 6.
KKR have started the season well, winning two out of three matches with a healthy net run-rate of 0.843. Shreyas Iyer’s men defeated Chennai Super Kings in the opening fixture by six wickets but lost the next one against Royal Challengers Bangalore by three wickets. In their previous game, they defeated Punjab Kings by six wickets at Wankhede Stadium.
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Umesh Yadav was yet again the star for the side, snaring four for 23 in his four overs as they bowled out PBKS to 137. Chasing the target, KKR were in a bit of a bother, with the scoreboard reading four down for 51 at the end of seveth over. Andre Russell then displayed his brute power to hammer 70* off 31 as they chased down the target with 33 balls to spare.
Mumbai Indians, as usual, have been all over the place at the beginning of the tournament, losing both their games so far. They lost their opener to Delhi Capitals by four wickets from a winning position before losing by 23 runs against Rajasthan Royals.
Their bowling attack struggled to keep Jos Buttler and co. quiet as they conceded 193/8 in the first innings. Jasprit Bumrah was exceptional with his three for 17 while Tymal Mills picked three for 35, but the rest of the attack was ineffective.
Mumbai were in a strong position while chasing, courtesy of Tilak Varma’s magnificent 33-ball 61 and Ishan Kishan’s fifty. Needing 59 off 34, MI’s power-hitters failed to deliver yet again.
Key players
Sunil Narine has 431 wickets to his credit in the format at an incredible economy of 6.02. The 33-year-old spinner has taken four or more wickets on 13 occasions in all T20s.
He has been magnificent in the ongoing IPL season, taking two wickets and conceding at only 4.16 rpo. Narine will be a big threat against Mumbai’s batting line-up.
Ishan Kishan is one of the best talents in the country, and he has brought more consistency to his game as an opener. The pocket dynamo has 3037 runs to his name in the T20 format at an average of nearly 30 while striking at 133, including two hundreds and 18 fifties. He Kishan has scored four fifties in his last four IPL innings, including 81 and 54 in the first two games. Kishan remains a key player for MI at the top of the order.
MI’s Jasprit Bumrah is the best pacer in the world and one of the rarest all-phase operators of the ball. The Indian speedster has a fantastic record in T20 cricket, having claimed 241 wickets from 195 matches at an economy of 7.01 rpo. Bumrah has taken two four-wicket hauls in the format, with best figures of 4/14. He was taken apart in the first match of the IPL 2022 but bounced back exceptionally to claim three for 17.
Andre Russell is one of the most destructive strikers of the ball and can bowl 140+ kmph rockets. The Jamaican all-rounder has scored 6669 runs in the T20 format at an average of 26.46 while striking at nearly 170, including two hundreds and 26 fifties. He has picked 356 wickets with the ball at an economy of 8.48. The KKR cricketer returned to form in the last game, blasting 70 off just 31 against Punjab and will be one to watch out for.
Prediction
KKR vs MI is arguably the most lopsided rivalry in the Premier League history. Out of 29 matches between the two, MI have won 22 games while KKR have been victorious on seven occasions. In the most recent five clashes, MI lead the scoreline by 4-1.
Looking at the squads, KKR have a vulnerable top order, and a lot will be dependent on Russell. Their bowling unit, on the other hand, looks very potent with the likes of Narine, Umesh Yadav, Tim Southee and Varun Chakravarthy in good form.
Mumbai could have Suryakumar Yadav back for this clash after recovering from an injury. Their lower middle order is a big concern with Kieron Pollard and Tim David not firing yet. Mumbai are yet to nail the right bowling combination, with currently being highly dependent on Bumrah.
Mumbai Indians have the historical record in their favour but considering their usual form in the early stages of a season and their struggles against spin, things won’t be straightforward at MCA’s spin-friendly surface. Expect KKR to come out on top in this fixture on Wednesday.
