Defending champions Mumbai Indians are all set to face Kings XI Punjab on what promises to be a thrilling Sunday for all cricket lovers worldwide. Both the teams have had a contrasting IPL 2020 so far. KXIP wouldn’t want to look back at the reverse fixture, with MI having walked away with the two points earlier in the season. However, a rejuvenated KXIP side will bank on their power-packed batting unit to get the better of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, both of whom feature in the top 5 of the wicket-takers chart. With two very formidable batting units locking horns on Sunday, one can expect an action-packed encounter to close out what promises to be an entertaining double-header in the IPL.
Match Details:
Match:
Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab, Match 36
Date:
18th October 2020, at 7:30 PM IST
Venue:
Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
What To Expect:
The pitch at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium has slowed down quite a bit after MI and RCB notched up scores of over 200 earlier in IPL 2020. Although the average score in Dubai is more than 170, another competitive contest between bat and ball awaits.Although the pacers should get ample swing off the surface, the spinners will be crucial to the outcome of this game. Considering the square boundaries at this venue, the spinners will look to flight the ball more often, which should make for an intriguing contest.Despite dew coming into play in the second innings, both teams will look to bat first upon winning the toss with 160-170 representing a par score in IPL 2020.
Kings XI Punjab:
They have the top run-getters in the competition, but have still struggled to clinch the crucial moments in a few games. With their backs up against the wall and Chris Gayle back in the side, a better performance is expected from KXIP, for whom each game is do-or-die. Things haven’t gone according to plan in IPL 2020. Although they did win their previous game against RCB, it was only their second win of the season.
KXIP Predicted Playing XI:
KL Rahul (C&WK), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Ravi Bishnoi, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh
Mumbai Indians:
Arguably the best team of IPL 2020, MI have absolutely no reason to change their team as it has been a winning combination. The likes of Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav have consistently come up with the goods. MI are comfortably at the top of the IPL 2020 points table, and could assert their dominance on the league even more with a win against the Kings XI Punjab.
MI Predicted Playing XI:
Quinton de Kock (WK), Rohit Sharma (C), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult