Published: May 19, 2017, 10:26 AM (IST)
Edited: May 19, 2017, 10:58 AM (IST)
A couple of things have changed in Indian Premier League (IPL): Mumbai Indians (MI) encountered a defeat in Qualifier 1 and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) emerged victorious in Eliminator for the first time in three attempts. This is evidence to the fact that past records, some or the other way, sink into oblivion in the fastest and shortest format. However, numbers suggest that Mumbai have a clear advantage over KKR in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2017, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. Out of 19 matches between these teams, Mumbai have got the better of KKR as many as 15 times. Having said that, KKR have a reputation of displaying spirited performances in the face of adversity. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Qualifier 2 at Bangalore
In this season
Nitish Rana’s resilient half-century dwarfed Manish Pandey’s unbeaten 81 at Wankhede Stadium in the first contest between these teams. Mumbai clinched a last-over thriller by 4 wickets, thanks to Hardik Pandya’s 11-ball 29 cameo.
KKR’s misery lengthened in the next game. Mumbai’s collective bowling show limited KKR’s rampage by a mere 9 runs at Eden Gardens.
Game plan
Mitchell McClenaghan conceded runs by the bucketful in his last over. In the 19th over of Qualifier 2, Rising Pune Supergiant clobbered 26 runs off him. Given the Bengaluru track has been uncharacteristically slow of late, Mumbai can rather finish McClenaghan’s quota in the middle overs and make full use of his change-in-pace skills. They anyway have the unmatched services of sling-shot actions in Lasith Malinga and Jasprit Bumrah in the death overs.
Although Lendl Simmons has scored two half-centuries in five games, his presence has not had significant difference to Mumbai at crucial junctures. This will also make way for Rohit at opening slot with Parthiv Patel. His experience of opening in ODIs for India will be handy. If anything, the in-form Nitish Rana — who was dropped to draft in the fit-again, veteran Ambati Rayudu — will get a nod at No. 3.
Likely XI for Mumbai Indians: Parthiv Patel (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Nitish Rana, Ambati Rayudu, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Karn Sharma, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga
Barring Parthiv Patel, Mumbai’s top order failed in the previous contest when the ball gripped the surface. The same is being anticipated in Bengaluru. If KKR use 3 overs from spinners in the powerplay, Mumbai will have a tough time keeping the scorers indulged.
For apparent reasons, KKR have to get Sunil Narine back at the top, pushing Gautam Gambhir at No. 3 and Robin Uthappa at 4. If Manish Pandey is back to his full fitness, Ishank Jaggi will have to warm the bench.
Yusuf has the knack of garnering a gem of a knock every season. However, we have not had the privilege to witness that yet. In 15 matches, he mediocrely added 143 runs at 17.87. Besides, KKR have everything on the line and they cannot afford most minor of glitches in a do-or-die contest. This means, if Pandey plays, the think-tank may as well keep Jaggi in the playing XI, dropping Yusuf. In addition, Yusuf’s lethargy in the field has cost KKR many runs.
Playing XI for Kolkata Knight Riders: Sunil Narine, Chris Lynn, Gautam Gambhir (c), Robin Uthappa (wk), Manish Pandey/Ishank Jaggi, Yusuf Pathan/Ishank Jaggi, Suryakumar Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Umesh Yadav, Trent Boult
Battle within a battle
You may blindly bet your money on Rohit Sharma falling prey to leg-spinners in this edition of IPL. Wrist spinners have dismissed him four times. Let alone that, Gambhir will place a slip, leg-slip, and forward short-leg against Rohit, off Piyush.
Angle a delivery across Gambhir and he finds himself in an awkward position, inducing an edge in the slip cordon. The bounce at Bengaluru will help Bumrah remove Gambhir.
Playing against the spin is never easy. Uthappa especially often holes out a catch at deep midwicket. With a leg-spinner in Karn and slow left-arm orthodox Krunal Pandya in the ranks, Uthappa will have to be careful of his choice of strokes.
Squads
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Parthiv Patel (wk), Nicholas Pooran (wk), Krishnappa Gowtham (wk), Ambati Rayudu (wk), Lendl Simmons (wk), Kulwant Khejroliya, Karn Sharma, Saurabh Tiwary, Asela Gunaratne, Mitchell Johnson, Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell McClenaghan, Shreyas Gopal, Siddhesh Lad, Vinay Kumar, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Tim Southee, Lasith Malinga, Jagadeesha Suchith, Nitish Rana, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Jitesh Sharma, Deepak Punia
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (c), Robin Uthappa (wk), Yusuf Pathan, Manish Pandey, Umesh Yadav, Sunil Narine, Chris Woakes, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Suryakumar Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Piyush Chawla, Darren Bravo, Ishank Jaggi, Chris Lynn, Colin de Grandhomme, Trent Boult, Rishi Dhawan, Sheldon Jackson, Ankit Rajpoot, Sayan Ghosh, Rovman Powell, Ramsingh Sanjay Yadav
TIME: 14.30 GMT | 20.00 IST
