IPL 2024, MI vs KKR - Hardik & SKY To Turn Things Around? 3 Match-Winners for MI

Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya need to fire for MI in this game [AP Photos]Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya need to fire for MI in this game [AP Photos]

The Mumbai Indians will face the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 51st match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). This match will be played at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 3rd at 7:30 PM IST. 

Mathematically the Mumbai Indians still have a chance of qualifying for the playoffs. However, the permutation and combinations involved in it makes things nearly impossible for the team. But MI is a proud franchise and they will try and maintain their pride as much as possible while bowing out of the tournament. 

Given on the nature of the wicket and how the performances of the players against KKR, here are three players who can change the balance of the game in MI's favour. 


Wankhede Stadium Ground Stats (IPL 2024)

Stats
Numbers
Matches4
Matches won batting first2
Matches won batting second2
Average first innings total190
Average second innings total179
Wickets by pacers38
Wickets by spinners8

The wicket at the Wankhede Stadium has true pace and bounce. Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah have bowled two brilliant spells on this track showing that the faster bowlers will have something on the track. Barring the first match, the wicket has favoured the batters and we can expect the same in this match. 


Three match-winners for Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma

The Indian skipper has looked decent with the bat in the tournament. But in the last couple of games he has been a bit out of rhythm that might be a concern for the MI management. However, Rohit Sharma has a great record against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium. He has scored 214 runs against KKR at this venue in 8 innings at a strike rate of 123.7 while maintaining an average of 35.70. Even though he has not scored at a great rate, he has been consistent and given how the wicket has behaved in this edition we can expect a game changing knock from Rohit Sharma in the match. 

Hardik Pandya

The newly appointed MI skipper has not been in the best of touches in the tournament. Hardik Pandya has played three innings against KKR at the Wankhede Stadium. In these three knocks, he has scored 125 runs at a strike rate of 201.60. While his numbers are really great with the bat, he has also done a good job with the ball. In four innings, Pandya has picked up five wickets against KKR, while maintaining an economy of 6.40. The records suggest that Pandya might make significant all-round contributions in this game and be a match-winner for MI. 

Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav has played a couple of good knocks in IPL 2024. However, his form has not been consistent in the tournament. In the three innings that Surya has played against KKR at the Wankhede, has has scored over forty runs. He has scored 148 runs in total in these three matches at a strike rate of 162.60. These records and the fact that he is due for a big one suggests that Suryakumar Yadav could be a match-winner for the Mumbai Indians in this game.