Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Abu Dhabi
Pro Tip: AB de Villiers has a good record against the Mumbai Indians, while Suryakumar Yadav has done well in Abu Dhabi.
Our XI: Devdutt Padikkal, Ishan Kishan, Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal
Substitutes: Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya
Player availability: Rohit Sharma is still recovering from a hamstring injury. He is likely to be fit soon, but could miss this game. All other players are available for selection.
NOTE: We might not always be able to tip you off about late injury (or other relevant) updates, so please finalise your team after the toss.
Captain: AB de Villiers
De Villiers has scored 324 runs at a strike rate of 174.19 so far. Among all batsmen who have faced 50 or more balls at the death, he has the third-highest strike rate of 236.11. He also averages 100.5 against the Mumbai Indians since 2018 and has scored fifties in each of his last three innings against them.
Vice-captain: Suryakumar Yadav
Yadav had a couple of bad games last week, but got a well-compiled 40 against the Rajasthan Royals in Mumbai’s last fixture. He has done well in Abu Dhabi, too, having scored 256 runs in seven innings at a strike rate of 154.21. Both of Yadav’s half-centuries this season have also come at this venue.
Hot Picks
Ishan Kishan: Kishan has chipped in with good performances on most occasions this season. He might continue to open given that Sharma could miss this game. Kishan averages 40.5 as an opener in the IPL and strikes at 139.05. Even if Sharma plays, Kishan will bat at No. 4, from where he scored 99 the last time these two teams met.
Virat Kohli: Though Kohli’s strike rate of 125 in the tournament has been a worry, he has got runs consistently, having scored 397 in his last eight innings. Since 2018, Kohli averages 45.25 against the Mumbai Indians and given his consistency, he is a must-have.
Yuzvendra Chahal: Chahal is the highest wicket-taker for the Royal Challengers this season, with 16 wickets at an economy of 7.04 and a strike rate of 15.7. He has also picked up five wickets in the last three games.
Differential Picks
Trent Boult: Boult has been the pick of the bowlers for the Mumbai Indians this season. He has picked up 16 wickets at an economy of 8.23 so far. Boult has also got the most wickets in the powerplay – ten at an economy of 7.07 and a strike rate of 15.60 – this season.
Washington Sundar: Sundar might be useful given he will mostly be used in the powerplay against left-handers Quinton de Kock and Kishan. Among bowlers who have bowled 75 or more balls in the powerplay this season, he has the second-best economy of 5.33, to go with three wickets. Sundar also has an economy of 5.38 against left-handed batsmen this season.
Alternate Scenarios
-
In case Sharma plays, replace Kieron Pollard with him and make him your vice-captain.
-
Mohammed Siraj picked up 3 for 8 the last time he played at this venue, where the quicks are getting some help upfront. Hence, he is an option to replace Chahal.
-
Two out of three fifties for de Villiers have come batting first. So if the Royal Challengers bat second, swap the captain and vice-captain.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo