The Mumbai Indians will take on the Punjab Kings in a crucial Indian Premier League match on Wednesday, with a win being of utmost importance for the defending champions. Currently placed seventh on the points table, the five-time champions need a win to move up the ladder and keep their hopes alive for the playoffs.
Their win against the Rajasthan Royals in their previous match would have instilled a fair bit of confidence in the team. Chasing down a massive 212 with three balls to spare, Mumbai Indians earned two valuable points. The win was crafted by Tim David, who smashed three sixes on the trot in the final over during his unbeaten 45 to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
While there were vital contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, Cameron Green, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma, none could match the ferocity of David’s strokes. The 27-year-old middle-order batter smashed five sixes and two boundaries at a strike rate in excess of 300 as Mumbai Indians won on home turf.
A similar commitment would be required against Punjab Kings, who are known to play aggressive cricket, though their biggest drawback is an unreliable top order. Barring Shikhar Dhawan and his opening partner Prabhsimran Singh, very few PBKS batters have contributed enough to their overall totals.
However, in their previous game against the Chennai Super Kings, the entire top and middle-order came to the party to win a last-ball thriller by four wickets. With Prabhsimran and Dhawan laying a good foundation in powerplay, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, and Jitesh Sharma all chipped in to make it a memorable chase.
The Mumbai Indians will have to face the fiery pace of Jofra Archer, who was back in the game against Rajasthan Royals, bowling his quota of overs and taking a wicket as well. The form of MI skipper Rohit Sharma, though, is the biggest concern for the five-time IPL champions, and much would depend on the India captain on Wednesday to shore up his side after contributing just three runs in the match against the Royals.
The stage is set for an exciting match between two teams that are known for their aggressive approach to the game. With crucial points at stake, both teams will be looking to give their best and come out victorious.