Highlights, Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab, IPL 10, match 51: KXIP win by 7 runs; keep playoffs hopes alive

A win for MI will keep them in good stead going further into the tournament, keeping them on the top spot of the IPL 10 points table. On the other hand, a victory for KXIP will keep them alive in IPL 2017, leaving them with one more game to win and make it to IPL 10 playoffs.

Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s live updates of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 game between Mumbai Indians (MI) andKings XI Punjab (KXIP). This is match 51 and both teams will have contrasting motives when they take to field. MI who have already qualified for the playoffs will be looking to harden their case of being at the top in the IPL 2017 points table. On the other hand, KXIP will have to win this game to keep their hopes alive in the tournament. But if the Glenn Maxwell-led side lose this game, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) will automatically qualify for the playoffs along with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Live cricket scorecard: Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) match 51, IPL 2017

I am Kaustubh S. Mayekar and will bring you the live cricket updates from this contest. MI, this season, have been the toughest side amongst the lot. Having played 12 games, the Rohit Sharma-led side has lost just thrice — twice against Rising Pune Supergiant (SRH) and once against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Unlike any other previous season, MI have maintained their good run throughout the group stages and hence became the first side in IPL 2017 to have seal a berth in the playoffs. With some international players leaving their franchise for national duty, MI did lose opener Jos Buttler but have replaced him with the equally dangerous Lendl Simmons, who has looked in top notch since joining.

On the other hand, KXIP are trying their best to rise back from ashes like a phoenix. KXIP started off well only to lose their sight in the middle stages. This hampered their chances of qualifying in the top-four spot, but nevertheless, they have bounced backed in a refurbished form. They successfully passed the hurdle of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) the other night, banking on disciplined bowling performance. But coming into this game, the equation will be completely different. KXIP have lost their run-machine Hashim Amla as the player had to return to South Africa. But they will look for some respite in Martin Guptill. But a headache for KXIP has been the misfiring middle order.

The last time these two played this season was at the Holkar Cricket Stadium in Indore where Amla’s 104 went in a losing cause. Overall these two sides have faced each other 19 times, which shows MI as the leader, having won 10 games while KXIP have won 9.

Squads

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Parthiv Patel (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nitish Rana, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Mitchell Johnson, Lendl Simmons, Tim Southee, Vinay Kumar, Saurabh Tiwary, Karn Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Krishnappa Gowtham, Siddhesh Lad, Nicholas Pooran, Shreyas Gopal, Asela Gunaratne, Jitesh Sharma, Deepak Punia, Jagadeesha Suchith, Kulwant Khejroliya.

Kings XI Punjab: Glenn Maxwell (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), David Miller, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Sharma, Manan Vohra, Akshar Patel, T Natarajan, Swapnil Singh, Darren Sammy, Shaun Marsh, Eoin Morgan, Ishant Sharma, Martin Guptill, Anureet Singh, Varun Aaron, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Matt Henry, Nikhil Naik, Rahul Tewatia, KC Cariappa, Pardeep Sahu, Rinku Singh, Armaan Jaffer.