With four games to go, this represents Mumbai Indians’ last chance of putting together a run that can even threaten the top four, even if it seems a pretty remote possibility.
It has been a miserable campaign for Hardik Pandya in his first season since assuming the captaincy from long-time servant Rohit Sharma, and they have lost four of their last five matches as things go from worse to worse - and that’s even before they come up against high-flying KKR.
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Mumbai Indians vs KKR Tips and Predictions
Phil Salt to be the top-scorer for KKR
We’re starting off with one of Paddy Power’s daily price boosts, and it’s a pretty easy one to go for considering Salt’s recent form in the IPL.
KKR have been unable to string together back-to-back wins since game three, but that has not stopped them piling on the runs and Salt has been integral to that, firmly establishing as one of the top T20 openers in the world and a prize asset for KKR after picking him up as a replacement.
Salt is the leading overseas run-scorer in the league with 392 runs at 49 before the game at a strike-rate of 180.64. Those are pretty formidable numbers and even though his opening partner Sunil Narine has also wowed, Salt is without doubt the more consistent of the two and has top-scored in the last two games, while the game before that he hit 48 off just 14 balls.
KKR to win
As with pretty much every game Mumbai Indians play at this IPL, they are registered as favourites with the bookies despite their poor recent form which makes their opposition a pretty decent bet.
It’s not without reason though. Not only have MI been in poor form, but KKR look really strong. Their batting is dangerous with Salt and Narine capable of taking the game away from an opposition, and a functional - rather than spectacular - bowling attack.
Mitchell Starc is one player who hasn’t quite been at the races with the ball but he is a proven performer and will fancy getting stuck into a misfiring Mumbai order.
The only issue to consider is that KKR have only ever won once at the Wankhede - but this is a new side and that shouldn’t count for much on the day.
Salt to score 30+, Varma to score 20+, Coetzee to take 1+ wicket
We have already discussed Salt’s fine form and consistency - two half-centuries and a 48 in his last three knocks - while Tilak Varma is another who has been very consistent, this time on the other side.
Prior to a failure against Lucknow Super Giants he had two half-centuries and two scores in the 30s in his last four knocks and has saved his side from a bit of embarrassment at times.
His career appears certain for higher honours and it could come pretty quickly after the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Gerald Coetzee continues to be a regular wicket-taker for MI despite a high economy rate. He has an aggressive role with the ball and hunts wickets rather than looking to keep the runs down, so we think he will be in the wickets column once more.
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