Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RC) will eye a winning return as they square off in Match 48 of the Dream11 Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.
While MI are coming into this game on the back of their 8-wicket loss against Rajasthan Royals (RR), this will be RCB’s first game since their loss against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).
Both the teams have played 11 games each, have 7 wins against their name and are currently in the top half of the points table.
The last time these two teams faced each other, we witnessed a Super Over-thriller in Dubai. After RCB scored 201/3 on the back of fifties from Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch and AB de Villiers, MI made a stunning recovery, courtesy Ishan Kishan’s 99 and Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten fifty to tie the scores before RCB came out on top in the Super Over.
While RCB will be looking to secure their second win of the season against MI, MI will be seeking to avenge that loss and as these two teams go head to head, here are the players who could make difference to the outcome of the game.
Hardik Pandya
7 sixes and 2 fours. Hardik Pandya put on a show with the bat as he bludgeoned unbeaten 60 off 21 balls against RR. Hardik cleared the fence with utter ease and his big-hitting prowess will be something that MI will bank on as they face RCB.
Virat Kohli
With 415 runs against his name, Virat Kohli has been his side’s leading run-getter in this IPL season. The RCB skipper scored a fifty in his side’s last game against CSK and he will be eager to have another fine outing with the bat as he takes on the likes of Jaspirt Bumrah, Trent Boult and Co.
Quinton de Kock
While he did not score many in MI’s last game against RR, Quinton de Kock, with 374 runs to his name, has been someone MI have been banking on with the bat. The left-hander, who has scored four fifties this season, will be looking to set the ball rolling for his side when it faces RCB.
Chris Morris
Chris Morris’ presence has added more firepower to RCB’s bowling. The South African all-rounder has bowled well at the start as well as at the death and has picked 10 wickets from six matches. He will be someone that RCB will turn to when they face the likes of de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik and Pollard.
Kieron Pollard vs AB de Villiers
No ground is big enough for these two when it comes to tonking those big sixes. While AB de Villiers slammed unbeaten 55 off 24 balls, Kieron Pollard hammered 60* from 24 balls when RCB and MI met the last time. Both the sides will be hoping that the two big hitters come good and if that happens, it will be a spectacle.
Stats
- MI at this venue: Played 8, Won 5, Lost 3
- RCB at this venue: Played 3, Won 2, Lost 1
Approaching Milestones
- Jasprit Bumrah needs 1 wicket to complete 100 IPL wickets.
- Ishan Kishan requires 7 runs to complete 1000 IPL runs.
- Aaron Finch needs 27 runs to complete 2000 IPL runs.
- AB de Villiers requires 39 runs to complete 750 IPL runs against MI.
