Defending Champions Mumbai Indians after losing their opening match will now take on Dinesh Karthik’s Kolkata Knight Riders.
KKR will be playing their opening encounter of IPL 2020. The 2-time IPL champions will be looking to clinch a major win against MI and announce their arrival in style.
On the other hand usually tagged as slow starters, MI will be eager to get win their first IPL match this year and get their campaign up and running.
Ahead of the clash between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, we present you all the cricketing fantasy tips of their match.
Head To Head
Matches Played 25
Mumbai Indians won – 19
Kolkata Knight Riders- 6
Match Timings and Venue
The match between KKR and MI will be played on Wednesday (23 September) beginning from 7:30 IST. The venue for the big clash will be at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi in the UAE.
Weather Forecast
Much like all the previous matches, this will also be contested under the extreme heat of Dubai. This means a lot of fluids and energy bars for players throughout the match.
Also Read: Eoin Morgan And Pat Cummins Will Add Value To Kolkata Knight Riders – KKR Mentor
Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders Fantasy Tips
MI was below par in their opening clash against CSK. No batsmen could capitalise on their starts and they ended up scoring 10-15 runs short.
Rohit Sharma has a terrific record against KKR and all eyes will be on him to produce a match-winning knock. Also, his batting partner Quinton de Kock needs to bat with more maturity and play a big knock once he’s set. These two MI openers are a given in your fantasy XI.
The strength of MI has always been their middle-order courtesy of Hardik, Krunal Pandya and Kieron Pollard. The trio had a disappointing game against CSK and will be hoping to put on a show in their encounter against KKR.
However, the biggest problem for MI is the poor form of their star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah. He is their opening match just picked 1 wicket and gave away 43 runs. A lot rests on the shoulders of Bumrah as his performances often decide the outcome of every MI matches.
Key players for MI- Rohit, Hardik Pandya and Bumrah
Now let’s shift focus on the KKR squad that will be looking to improve upon their poor record against KKR.
The next big thing of Indian cricket Shubman Gill as he will bat at the top of the order throughout IPL 2020. Nitish Rana will be another crucial batsman for KKR this year as he is a brilliant player of spin.
If there is any team that can compete with MI’s destructive middle-order its KKR. Andre Russell, Eoin Morgan and Dinesh Karthik will be the most important players for KKR this season. If they click together in a match chances of KKR winning the match will be considerably high.
Sunil Narine, as usual, will a potent force in their bowling attack and KKR will again bank on their great spinners to deliver the goods. Kuldeep Yadav will also be vital for KKR on slow pitches in the UAE and will look to form a formidable pair with Narine in the UAE.
Two youngsters Shivam Mavi and Kamlesh Nagarkoti will look to impress everyone with their performances when they share the burden of fast bowlers for KKR this year.
The most expensive foreign player in IPL history, Pat Cummins too will be hoping to justify his massive price tag and lead the bowling attack of KKR.
Also Read: IPL 2020: Aakash Chopra Picks His Ideal Playing XI Of Kolkata Knight Riders
Predicted XI
Mumbai Indians: Quinton de Kock(wk), Rohit Sharma(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary/ Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, James Pattinson, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Shubman Gill, Sunil Narine, Nitish Rana, Andre Russell, Eoin Morgan, Dinesh Karthik(c & wk), Pat Cummins, Shivam Mavi, Kuldeep Yadav, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Prasidh Krishna.
Fantasy 11 picks
Captain – Rohit Sharma, Sunil Narine
Vice-Captain – Hardik Pandya, Andre Russell
Batters – Rohit (c), Shubman Gill, Surya Kumar Yadav, Eoin Morgan
All-Rounders – Russell (VC), Hardik (VC)
Bowlers – Narine (C), Bumrah, Boult, Pat Cummins
Match Prediction
Except Mumbai Indians to make a statement against KKR. Rohit and his men will be looking to continue there fine record against KKR and register their first IPL 2020 win.
KKR on the other hands needs their big international players to fire against MI. Team batting second will hold the advantage as the dew heavily makes an appearance in the second half of the match. It is expected to be a mouth-watering contest when MI take on KKR at Abu Dhabi.
