Hardik Pandya effects a run out © BCCI
Toss Mumbai Indians opt to field v Kolkata Knight Riders
Searching for their ninth straight win over Kolkata Knight Riders, Rohit Sharma opted to field first at Eden Gardens for the first match between the two sides in IPL 2019. Left-arm pacer Barinder Sran was brought into the Mumbai side, in place of the left-arm spinner Anukul Roy.
For Knight Riders, there were three changes from their loss at the hands Rajasthan Royals. Looking to avoid their seventh successive defeat in IPL 2019, Knight Riders captain Dinesh Karthik announced that Robin Uthappa and Harry Gurney returned to the side in place of Prithvi Raj Yarra and Carlos Brathwaite. Also coming into the Knight Riders XI for the first time this season was Sandeep Warrier, the right-arm fast bowler, instead of Prasidh Krishna.
Knight Riders are also searching for their first win in nine games against Mumbai. They’ve lost all IPL games against Mumbai since 2015, and have only a 21.73% win-percentage against the three-time champions.
A Mumbai win will ensure playoff qualification – and a temporary spot at the summit of the points table – for Rohit’s men, while Knight Riders will be all-but-out of the top-four contention.
Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Chris Lynn, 2 Sunil Narine, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Nitish Rana 5 Dinesh Karthik (capt and wk), 6 Andre Russell, 7 Rinku Singh, 8 Shubman Gill, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Harry Gurney, 10 11 Sandeep Warrier
Mumbai Indians: 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma (capt), 3 Evin Lewis, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Krunal Pandya, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Kieron Pollard, 8 Barinder Sran, 9 Rahul Chahar, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Jasprit Bumrah
Sreshth Shah is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo