Mumbai are 8th on points table [iplt20.com]
Match 42 of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 will see Mumbai Indians (MI) clash against table-toppers Rajasthan Royals (RR) on Sunday in their fortress at the Wankhede Stadium. This encounter will be more memorable for Mumbai, as the franchise will celebrate 10 years of Rohit Sharma's captaincy.
Mumbai holds an advantage over Rajasthan, winning 15 matches in comparison to 13. In Wankhede, this number comes down to four Mumbai wins against three Rajasthan wins.
With this being the only time they will meet each other in the group stage this season, the winner will get bragging rights until the next time.
Team Preview
Mumbai Indians
Mumbai are coming off a heavy defeat in their last game against Gujarat Titans, where they failed in all departments. Sharma and Co. will also have to do away with bad memories of Wankhede this season, having lost two out of three here.
They will be bolstered by the availability of Jofra Archer, who, unlike his economical self, has been hit for runs. The top-order is expected to come good on a ground that has small square boundaries and is known to help batters come into form.
Much will once again rely on Piyush Chawla, who has been tremendous in providing MI breakthroughs in the powerplay against an explosive line-up like the Royals.
Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan will want to keep their winning momentum going as the business end of the tournament nears. A slip-up here could deny Rajasthan a direct entry into the final.
Since the start of the season, the Sanju Samson-led side have looked well-balanced, with both their overseas and domestic players performing well. They might include Trent Boult in the playing XI, given his familiarity with conditions in Mumbai.
Match Details
Date & Time: April 29, 19:30 PM IST
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Live Streaming and Broadcasting: Jio Cinema & Star Sports Network
Pitch Report
With rain around in the past few days, the track at Wankhede might assist the bowlers early on. But in general, the pitch here has been a belter, with almost 400 runs being scored in the past few matches. The side that wins the toss will most likely ball first.
Probable Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, Tilak Varma, Arjun Tendulkar, Hrithik Shokeen, Jofra Archer, Piyush Chawla, and Jason Behrendorff.
Rajasthan Royals: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson (wk & c), Shimron Hetmyer, Dhruv Jurel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jason Holder, Trent Boult, Sandeep Sharma, and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicket-Keeper: Sanju Samson
Batters: Tilak Varma, Devdutt Padikall, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav
All-Rounders: Ravichandran Ashwin, Cameron Green
Bowlers: Adam Zampa, Sandeep Sharma, Jason Behrendorff, Piyush Chawla
Captain: Rohit Sharma
Vice Captain: Jos Buttler
Prediction
The numbers might support Mumbai, but given the form the Royals displayed in their last match against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), it will be unfair not to give them a slight edge over the hosts.