IPL 2022: KKR vs MI Preview – Kolkata hope to break Mumbai voodoo
The Kolkata Knight Riders will be locking horns with Mumbai Indians in Match 14 of IPL 2022 at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on April 6. Both teams will be heading into this contest on the back of contrasting results. While KKR registered a comprehensive six-wicket win over Punjab Kings in their last game, Mumbai went down to Rajasthan Royals by 23 runs.
Kolkata have won two of their three games. Even though they lost to RCB by three wickets last week, the two-time winners went down fighting and made the Royal Challengers Bangalore earn their win in the final over. Their batting but more importantly bowling is peaking at the right time.
MI on the other hand have lost their opening two matches and are desperately searching for their first points in the competition. After Delhi Capitals’ lower order took the game away from them, they completely lost the plot chasing 194 against the Rajasthan Royals just when they seemed to be in command. While the batting performances have been sporadic barring opener Ishan Kishan, the bowlers are yet to showcase a match-winning performance and they would be expected to work in tandem from hereon.
Predicted XI for Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians
Kolkata Knight Riders
Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Tim Southee, Pat Cummins, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy
Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Daniel Sams, M Ashwin, Tymal Mills, Jaydev Unadkat, Jasprit Bumrah
As far as the overseas recruits of both sides are concerned, Mumbai Indians do not have any problems regarding this but, it remains to be seen whether Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins will find a place in the playing XI.
Cummins can only participate in IPL 2022 after April 5 as per Cricket Australia (CA)’s central contract rules and since this match is taking place just a day after the deadline, it would be interesting to see whether he makes it to the playing XI.
Meanwhile, Australia’s limited-overs captain Aaron Finch who has been roped in as English opener Alex Hales’ replacement will not be featuring for the MI game. He could be expected to join the KKR squad on match day after the one-off T20I against Pakistan on April 5.
