IPL 2021: PBKS vs MI Preview – Confused Punjab face the Mumbai test
The IPL 2021 season is quickly getting away from KL Rahul’s Punjab Kings. They have lost three of their four matches. The only match they won could have even gone either way. Having said that, Kings will now face the defending champions, Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on April 23.
Mumbai has lost two and won two in Chennai and will look to end their leg in South India for now with a win. Punjab Kings failed to adjust to the lack of pace on the Chennai pitch in their previous match and will have a huge challenge when they face Mumbai Indians. In the 26 matches so far between the two teams, Mumbai have won 14 while Punjab have won 12.
Match Info
IPL 2021 Match 17 – Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Head to head:
Stat Attack:
Chris Gayle is 9 fours away from completing 400 fours in IPL.
Krunal Pandya is 1 wicket away from completing 50 wickets in IPL.
Team News:
Punjab Kings: Punjab dropped two of their big-money overseas pacers, Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith, in the previous match. Instead, they brought in Moises Henriques and Fabian Allen. This move does bring balance to the side, but only on paper. Neither of the players were able to adjust to the conditions well with the bat in hand. Allen bowled a tidy spell of four overs with 1 for 22. Henriques was used only for one over. Both should retain their spot in the side as this is the most balanced Punjab XI we have seen so far. But, KL Rahul would want both these overseas players to step up with the bat. Punjab might continue with the same XI.
Mumbai Indians: Despite their loss in the previous match, Mumbai Indians will be confident to get two points against Punjab Kings. Jayant Yadav, the right-arm off-spinner, played in the previous match replacing Adam Milne, Mumbai’s choice for the fourth overseas player in the match before that. Yadav was used against Delhi for a specific reason. Interestingly, he was used in the previous season in the match against Delhi only, making it plausible that he might miss this match, despite ending with 1 for 25 in four overs. Except for this one spot, Mumbai is likely to tinker around with their combination. The rest of the line-up will be retained.
Probable XI:
