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IPL 2021 | PBKS vs MI: With backs to the wall, only way ahead for KL Rahul men’s is forward

Abhishek Singh

The Punjab Kings have had a forgettable outing in the Indian Premier League so far, losing their last three games, since their victory in the opening game, a minute one against Rajasthan Royals. With their backs against the wall, Punjab Kings face Mumbai Indians, the most successful team in the IPL history, but for the Kings, a team that led to their ultimate comeback in the last season of the cash-rich tournament.

It was against a Mumbai Indians side only where the Punjab Kings defeated them in the second super over eliminator. From there on, the Kings went on to win five consecutive matches, eventually losing to Chennai and getting knocked out of the playoffs race. With a Mumbai, that’s struggling with their batting order, it is going to be a matter of holding their own for the Punjab Kings and eking out a victory to get the momentum back. 

Punjab need to utilise its resources well

After the mini-auction, everybody said that this Punjab team had all its flanks covered. With fast bowlers assembled in the form of Riley Meredith and Jhye Richardson and getting Dawid Malan to go all out at the top, it was a team that looked fearsome at the outset. However, the resources of the team have not been managed well. Playing Chris Gayle in the four matches alongside Nicholas Pooran has yielded no results what so ever for the team. 

Now is the time for Anil Kumble and the management to make a decision and play their horses for courses. The likes of Malan, Meredith and Chris Jordan need to be backed and placed into the playing XI. If Moises Henriques has been backed as an all-round option then he at least needs to be given 2-3 games to prove himself. 

Ravi Bishnoi is another prospect that hasn’t been utilised well and if he can’t play in Chennai, then may God help Punjab. The fact that Shahrukh has always been left to bat with the tail is another problematic issue. 

It is with pertaining issues like these that Punjab would enter the arena at Chepauk once again. Will they able to resolve them or will they get entangled in it all over again, will be told by time only. 

Mumbai's middle-order mayhem

The Mumbai Indians have had one of the most feared middle orders in IPL history. Over the last few years, the likes of Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers alongside Ishan Kishan or players late down the order have scored runs aplenty. But this season, the story is a bit different. 

In the four games so far, Hardik hasn’t been able to cross the 20-run margin. In fact, he has scored a combined total of just 35 runs in those four innings at a dismal average of below nine. What has made matters worse is the fact that he has always got out at the wrong time. 

Pollard, apart from his one knock in which he hit two sixes in the last two balls to get the Mumbai score past 150, hasn’t really achieved much either. He has scored just 49 runs in four innings with an average of about 17. And if Krunal’s tally of 26 runs is anything to go by, then the situation isn’t really bright. 

Mumbai’s top fast bowler, Trent Boult going on to ask the middle order to put runs on the board is as alarming a sound as it can get. Thus it is going to be the right time for the Blue and Gold to get their middle order in shape before it gets too late to wake up from slumber. 

Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians; Match Details

Match Number-17

Date and Time: April 23, 2021, 07:30 pm IST, 02:00 pm GMT

Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai

Broadcast and Live Stream: Star Sports and Hotstar

Pitch Report

Chennai has so far produced wickets that are low scoring, apart from the one high scoring game involving KKR and RCB. thus expecting another low scoring turner with dual bounce would be a no brainer for anybody. The pitches have generally had help for spinners and if pacers are able to manipulate the ball with cross-seam well, the square is conducive enough to reel results. 

Weather and Toss

Chepauk in the last game had so much dew that even local lad Ravichandran Ashwin was surprised by the amount. He reasoned that it was due to heavy grass that so much dew had accumulated. But with clouds passing by the ground, dew is going to be a phenomenon that captains must keep in mind. If dew increases with passing time, captains would most likely ball first after winning the toss. 

Team News

Punjab Kings

Going by the looks of it, Punjab Kings would most likely make changes and they should be the positive ones. Chris Gayle and Nicholas Pooran must make way for Dawid Malan and Riley Meredith. Similarly, either one between Arshdeep and Mohammed Shami should be dropped to get in Ravi Bishnoi. Since both Fabian Allen and Henriques could bat, they can be given an extended run. 

Strongest XI

KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Dawid Malan, Moises Henriques, Deepak Hooda, Shahrukh Khan, Fabian Allen, Ravi Bishnoi, Murugan Ashwin, Riley Meredith, Arshdeep Singh

Mumbai Indians

Changing the XI might not be the right way to go forward for Mumbai, but dropping de Kock for Chris Lynn might not be a bad idea. Krunal Pandya could be benched to try out someone like Anukul Roy as well. Roy hasn’t got a shot but has performed exceedingly well for Jharkhand with both bat and ball and his fielding credentials are as good as anybody in the Mumbai lineup. 

Strongest XI

Quinton de Kock (wk)/ Chris Lynn, Rohit Sharma (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya/Anukul Roy, Rahul Chahar, Jayant Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult

Dream XI Predictions / Fantasy XI Suggestions

Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Shahrukh Khan, Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Ravi Bishnoi, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Rahul Chahar (vc)

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