Three games! Three Losses! That’s how defending champions Mumbai Indians have started their second phase of IPL 2021. One team’s loss is another’s profit, and Punjab Kings suddenly find themselves in the race of qualifying for the playoffs. With the chances of missing the playoffs increasing with every loss, Mumbai Indians are going to play against Punjab Kings at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings 42nd Match IPL 2021 on 28th September. Will it be Mumbai Indians ending their losing streak or Punjab Kings getting close to the playoff berth?
Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings 42nd Match IPL 2021
Team News for Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians have slumped to the seventh position after losing three matches in a row. And if they lose the fourth, then it will become almost impossible for them to qualify for the playoffs.
Mumbai Indians have to address their batting order. Except for their openers, other batters have performed below par. Suryakumar Yadav (16 runs in 3 matches), Ishan Kishan (34 runs in 3 matches), and Kieron Pollard (43 runs in 3 matches) need to turn things around in the next four games.
Mumbai should replace Krunal Pandya with Jayant Yadav. After all, 9 wicketless overs with a poor batting record qualify you for getting replaced. The bowlers have done a good job for Mumbai – Jasprit Bumrah has 8 wickets in the last three matches. This will be good news for team India with the ICC World T20 happening in UAE next month.
Likely playing 11 of Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Jayant Yadav, Adam Milne, Rahul Chahar, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult
Team News for Punjab Kings
Punjab Kings are currently at 5th place in the points table with 8 points, and they are tied with three more teams. With only four games remaining, every match is important for the Kings to qualify for the playoffs. If they manage to do so, they will enter playoffs after a gap of 6 years.
Kings openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal have added 142 runs in 2 games and will remain the key to their plans to win the remaining games. But the Kings are facing the same middle-order issues as their opponents. Shahrukh Khan should come in for out of form Deepak Hooda. The inclusion of Ravi Bishnoi proved match-winning for the Kings. He will lead the bowling attack with Shami and Arshdeep Singh.
Likely playing 11 of Punjab Kings
KL Rahul (c & wk), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Aiden Markram, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda, Harpreet Brar, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh
Pitch and Weather Conditions
Sheikh Zayed stadium assists spinners. Though it is a flat wicket, the batters are finding it difficult to play freely. The weather will be clear throughout the match.
Betting Predictions for Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings 42nd Match IPL 2021
Match Result Prediction
You just can’t take Mumbai Indians out of the picture. Though they haven’t won in their last three matches, they are five times IPL winners. As they say, a wounded lion is worse than a sleeping one. Plus, Punjab Kings have narrowly won their last game by 5 runs and lost the game before that by 2 runs. Such inconsistency will be exploited by the experienced Mumbai Indians itching for a victory. They have done it multiple times in past IPL seasons. Thus, Mumbai Indians are likely to win against Punjab Kings.
Winner: Mumbai Indians (1.66)
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Toss Prediction
Three of the last four games have been won by teams chasing the target. Even the domestic record of teams batting second has been better. Therefore, the team winning the toss should field first.
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Top Batsman for Punjab Kings
The consistency and class make Punjab Kings skipper KL Rahul different from the others. Last season’s Orange Cap winner has scored 401 runs in 9 games this season with an average of 57.28 and four half-centuries. He was in great touch before his unlucky dismissal against Sunrisers Hyderabad. KL Rahul should be the top player for Punjab Kings against Mumbai Indians.
Top Batsman For Punjab Kings: KL Rahul (2.75)
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