IPL 2024, PBKS vs MI - Indian Stars To Dominate The MI-Show; 3 Match-Winners For MI

Tilak Varm and Jasprit Bumrah could be crucial for MI in this game [AP Photos]Tilak Varm and Jasprit Bumrah could be crucial for MI in this game [AP Photos]

The Mumbai Indians will face the Punjab Kings in the 33rd match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). The game will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on April 18th at 7:30 PM IST.  

The Mumbai Indians have had a rollercoaster journey in IPL 2024. They kicked off the tournament with three consecutive losses, only to bounce back with two impressive wins. However, their momentum was halted by a home defeat at the hands of their arch-rivals, the Chennai Super Kings.

Hardik Pandya and his men will be eager to prove their critics wrong. They need a win and the two points from this game to keep themselves alive in the tournament. However, the task will be challenging for them as their opposition, the Punjab Kings, will also do their best to get the two points as they, too, are struggling to survive in the league.


Mullanpur Stadium Ground Stats (IPL 2024)

Stats
Numbers
Matches3
Matches won batting first1
Matches won batting second2
Average first innings total168
Average second innings total
170
Wickets by pacers
33
Wickets by spinners
8

The Mullanpur stadium has provided close competition between the bat and the ball. Players of all trades will believe that they can make an impact on this game. Mumbai Indians will be looking to adjust to the playing conditions quickly, hoping their big guns fire and help them pick up the two points from the match. 


Three Match-winners for Mumbai Indians

Suryakumar Yadav

The best batter in the T20 format was absent for the first few games in IPL 2024. Suryakumar Yadav has played three games since his return. It has been a roller-coaster ride for him so far. While he scored a duck in his first outing, Surya followed it up with a brilliant half-century. However, in the next game against CSK, he ended up with a golden duck. 

The MI team will hope that Surya gets his consistency back and starts to have a regular impact on the games. His numbers against PBKS in IPL 2023 will give confidence to and encourage the team management. In the last edition, SKY scored 123 runs in two innings against PBKS. He scored 50 plus in both matches and maintained a strike rate of 215.80. SKY will have the confidence from the previous season to go out there and emerge as a match-winner in this game. 

Tilak Varma

The Indian left-handed middle-order batter has been in decent form in IPL 2024. In six innings, Tilak Varma scored 174 runs at a strike rate and average of 148.72 and 34.80, respectively. 

Varma's numbers against PBKS are also pretty impressive. He has batted in two innings against them and has played two fiery cameos. In two matches, Varma has scored 65 runs at a strike rate of 191.20 while being dismissed only once. So, it could be expected that if he gets a chance to bat in this game, Varma might have a significant impact for the Mumbai Indians. 


Jasprit Bumrah

The prime Indian pacer has been in great form in this tournament. Jaspirt Bumrah has ten wickets under his belt in six matches. He has looked good with the ball and is in a great rhythm. The form of Bumrah already makes him a potential match-winner for MI, and his record against PBKS further strengthens it. 

Bumrah has 20 wickets against PBKS in 15 matches. In these 15 matches, his economy is just 6.34, and his average and strike rate are 18 and 17, respectively. These numbers indicate that this game could be one where Jasprit Bumrah tilts the result in MI's favour single-handedly.