Big image
MI have made a sometimes gradual begin to the season and have one win from three video games, whereas RCB had received two earlier than they bumped into RR. It’s early days but, however some themes could possibly be rising already.
For RCB, that one defeat appeared to be simply that – one defeat. That they bought previous 200 towards RR regardless of being six down within the eleventh over confirmed their depth of sources, and if their bowlers took a pounding, the truth that Josh Hazlewood was again was in itself a supply of positivity.
MI, nevertheless, appear to have issues. Their bowlers have struggled for each wickets – they’ve solely taken ten in all in three video games thus far – and financial system, and their assault appears over-dependent on Jasprit Bumrah. Their batting line-up is an inventory of acquainted, formidable names, however the flip facet is the sense it generally offers of being barely behind the occasions. Where plenty of different groups have unearthed stars for the longer term, MI appear to lack a few of that new-age leading edge.
But in the event you’ve watched sufficient of the IPL, you understand how shortly statements like that may start to look untimely. For MI’s sake, they’ll wish to show it unsuitable as shortly as attainable.
Key query
Team information
Mumbai Indians (possible): 1 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Suryakumar Yadav, 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya (capt), 6 Naman Dhir, 7 Sherfane Rutherford, 8 Mitchell Santner, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Deepak Chahar, 11 Trent Boult/Corbin Bosch, 12 Jasprit Bumrah.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (possible): 1 Phil Salt, 2 Virat Kohli, 3 Devdutt Padikkal, 4 Rajat Patidar (capt), 5 Tim David, 6 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 7 Romario Shepherd, 8 Krunal Pandya, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Abhinandan Singh/Mangesh Yadav, 11 Josh Hazlewood, 12 Suyash Sharma.
In the highlight: Trent Boult and Tim David
Stats and trivia
- If each play on Sunday, will probably be the thirty fifth IPL assembly of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Who has achieved higher in these head-to-heads thus far? There actually is not a lot in it. Kohli is 9 runs away from 1000 runs in these video games, with a median of 35.39, a strike charge of 133.19, and eight fifties. Rohit, in the meantime, has 848 runs at 27.35 and 136.99, with seven fifties.
- Eight batters have scored at the very least 50 runs in IPL 2026 at a 200-plus strike rate. Three are RCB gamers – Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal and Tim David. MI do not have anybody on that listing.
- Four of MI’s bowlers – Shardul Thakur, Ghazanfar, Mayank Markande and Boult – have 12-plus financial system charges after taking part in two or extra video games this season.
- MI have an general 21-14 head-to-head report towards RCB, however the final 5 video games have been neck and neck, with RCB successful three and MI two.
Pitch and circumstances
The Wankhede is an out-and-out bowl-first venue in night time video games, with dew nearly all the time taking part in a task throughout run chases. Recent outcomes at Pitch No. 8 – on which Sunday’s recreation is about to be performed – paint a balanced image, with the chasing crew successful 4 and dropping three of the final seven IPL video games there, however run charges inform a unique story, with groups going at 10.10 within the second innings of these matches in comparison with 9.58 within the first. Spin has been extra economical than tempo in these seven video games, as general financial system charges of 8.58 and 10.13 would counsel, although one should keep in mind that quick bowlers are likely to tackle the majority of the high-scoring powerplay and dying overs.
A heat night time is forecast in Mumbai, with temperatures dipping into the excessive 20s (Celsius) from a day excessive of 33 levels.
Next three video games
Mumbai Indians
April 16 vs Punjab Kings, Mumbai
April 20 vs Gujarat Titans, Ahmedabad
April 23 vs Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
April 15 vs Lucknow Super Giants, Bengaluru
April 18 vs Delhi Capitals, Bengaluru
April 26 vs Gujarat Titans, Bengaluru
Karthik Krishnaswamy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
