IPL 2023, Match 31 | MI vs PBKS | Cricket Exchange Fantasy Teams, Player Stats, Probable XIs and Pitch Report

MI vs PBKS, Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips: IPL 2023, Match 31 (Source: AP Photo)

The 31st match of the ongoing season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) will see five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) host the Punjab Kings (PBKS). The clash is slated to take place on a doubleheader Saturday, April 22, 2023, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai at 19.30 PM IST. Both sides will meet again in the reverse fixture in Match No. 45 on Wednesday, May 03 at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali.

After losing their first two matches, five-time champions MI have bounced back brilliantly as they have now won three games on the bounce. With 6 points and a net run rate of -0.164, they are placed in the sixth position in the table. On the other hand, PBKS have had a mixed start to their season as they have played six with three wins and as many losses. With 6 points and an NRR of -0.298, they are below MI in the seventh spot. (All scenarios till Match No. 28)

However, before the game begins, let us take a look at some of the essential stats, the prime player picks, and the best-predicted XIs for the fantasy contests of the match.

MI vs PBKS, Match 31: Pitch Report- Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Spinners have picked up more wickets (13) as compared to the pacers (9) at the venue in this IPL. Overall, chasing sides have had a better record than teams batting first in T20s.

Numbers at the ground (Overall IPL)

Total Matches: 106

Matches won batting first: 47

Matches won batting second: 58

Tied: 1

Average first innings score: 167.3

Average runs per over: 8.39

Average runs per wicket: 26.77

MI vs PBKS, Match 31: Head-to-Head

Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have met each other 29 times in the history of the IPL with MI just ahead with 15 victories. The remaining 14 matches have been won by the Kings.

Head-to-Head (Overall)

Total Matches: 29

Mumbai Indians won: 15

Punjab Kings won: 14

Head-to-Head (Last 10 Matches)

Mumbai Indians won: 5

Punjab Kings won: 5

MI vs PBKS, Match 31: Probable Playing XIs

Mumbai Indians Team News

Speedster Jofra Archer might finally play his second match of this season.

Mumbai Indians Probable Playing XI

Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Hrithik Shokeen, Arjun Tendulkar, Piyush Chawla, Jason Behrendorff, Riley Meredith/Jofra Archer

Punjab Kings Team News

Regular skipper Shikhar Dhawan is likely to be miss out yet again as he is yet to get fully recovered from his injury. Sikandar Raza might replace Matthew Short in the final 11.

Punjab Kings Probable Playing XI

Prabhsimran Singh, Matthew Short/Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sam Curran (c), Shahrukh Khan, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Ellis/Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh 

MI vs PBKS, Match 31: Top five picks

1.Ishan Kishan (MI): Wicketkeeper batter Ishan Kishan has struck the second-most runs for MI so far after Tilak Varma. He is averaging 33.80 with one half-century in 5 innings. The left-handed opener will be looking to provide his team a solid start.

2.Cameron Green (MI): All-rounder Cameron Green grabbed the Player of the Match award in the last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Batting at no. 3, Green scored 64* and then delivered a spell of 1/29 (4). He is expected to come good in this fixture as well.

3.Tilak Varma (MI): Young Tilak Varma has started off the new season from just where he left off in the last IPL: The left-handed batter is yet again the leading run-scorer for MI so far. He is averaging 53.50 in 5 innings as he is a worthy pick for this tie.

4.Prabhsimran Singh (PBKS): Opener Prabhsimran Singh has racked up second-most runs for PBKS so far after Shikhar Dhawan. Though, he is averaring 22.16 with just one fifty in 6 innings and would like to add more to his tally especially in the absence of their regular captain Dhawan.

5.Arshdeep Singh (PBKS): Pacer Arshdeep Singh is the leading wicket-taker for PBKS this season. He has picked up 9 wickets in 6 matches at an average of 19.44. He has taken wicket in every single match this season as he is a good pick for this fixture.

MI vs PBKS, Match 31: Must picks for the match

Mumbai Indians:

1.Ishan Kishan - 169 runs in 5 innings

2.Cameron Green - 99 runs and 3 wickets in 5 ininngs  

3.Tilak Varma - 214 runs in 5 innings

Punjab Kings:

1.Prabhsimran Singh - 133 runs in 6 innings

2.Arshdeep Singh - 9 wickets in 6 innings

3.Sam Curran - 87 runs and 5 wickets in 6 innings

MI vs PBKS, Match 31: Risky picks

Mumbai Indians: Hrithik Shokeen, Arjun Tendulkar

Punjab Kings: Harpreet Singh Bhatia, Harpreet Brar

MI vs PBKS, Match 31: Best Captain and Vice-captain choices

1.Tilak Varma (MI)

2.Ishan Kishan (MI)

3.Sam Curran (PBKS)

MI vs PBKS, Match 31: Team for Head-to-Head Contests

Wicketkeeper: Ishan Kishan, Prabhsimran Singh

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma

All-rounders: Cameron Green, Sam Curran

Bowlers: Jason Behrendorff, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Rahul Chahar

Captain: Tilak Varma

Vice-captain: Sam Curran

MI: 6 Players, PBKS: 5 Players

MI vs PBKS, Match 31: Team for Winner takes all Contests

Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan, Prabhsimran Singh 

Batters: Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Tim David

All-rounders: Cameron Green, Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza

Bowlers: Jason Behrendorff, Arshdeep Singh, Harpreet Brar

Captain: Sam Curran

Vice-captain: Ishan Kishan

MI: 6 Players, PBKS: 5 Players