The focus turns to Mullanpur on Thursday and two teams who need a win as we head to the halfway stage of the IPL, with Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians both struggling in the table.
It is the Kings who have marginally the better record so far this season, though they are only ahead of Mumbai Indians on net run rate with both sides having won just two of their six matches, while Delhi Capitals’ win on Wednesday has caused some congestion in the middle of the table.
Hardik Pandya’s side thought they had turned a corner with successive wins until they went down to CSK by 20 runs on Sunday, with Rohit Sharma finding form while the Kings go into the game on the back of successive defeats but two of them by very narrow margins.
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Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians Tips and Predictions
Punjab Kings to win
As is customary given their history and prestige in the IPL, Mumbai Indians head into pretty much every game they play as favourites, but that means there is decent value to be gained from betting against them.
While Mumbai have shown signs of getting back to playing some good cricket in recent games following a fraught start to the competition, there remain plenty of holes in their side that could be exploited.
The most obvious is the balance of the side and fitness of Hardik Pandya - if he is truly fit and capable of bowling, then things look a lot better. The bowling attack is the most obvious weak point for MI with a lack of quality spin available to them in the middle overs, even if Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance goes some way to making up for that.
But it would be very easy to overlook Punjab Kings given their recent form. However having lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad by two runs and then losing to Rajasthan Royals by three wickets off the penultimate ball - their earlier defeat to RCB was also in the last over of the game - they are clearly not far away from everything clicking.
Hardik Pandya to hit a six and take a wicket
Pandya has been one of the main talking points of this year’s IPL, having assumed the Mumbai Indians captaincy from Rohit Sharma in controversial circumstances.
Not only has he come under fire for his captaincy, but his fitness - or lack of - has for so long been a big talking point in Indian cricket and he has appeared reluctant to bowl himself at times this season, but has shown signs recently of getting back into it a bit more.
He has only bowled 11 overs in six matches so far but three of them came in the last game where he finished with 2-43 and as he has shown over the course of his career, he will pick up wickets if given the overs.
With 131 runs at a strike-rate of 145.55 with the bat as well, and six sixes in as many matches, he looks a good bet to make an impact at some point with the bat as well.
Rohit Sharma to score 30+ runs and Arshdeep Singh to take 2+ wickets
The IPL form of Rohit Sharma was a major topic for debate leading into the tournament, with the India Test captain failing to pass 400 runs in a season since 2019 which led to his demise as Mumbai Indians skipper.
He has taken it in his stride however, proving his enduring quality with 261 runs at a strike rate of 167.31 so far, including a first century since 2012 and just his second overall in the defeat to CSK last time out.
Rohit has proved that he is still a batter capable of delivering at the very highest level and has scores of 49, 38 and 105* in his last three knocks.
He will face a stern examination from opening bowler Arshdeep Singh who is another who appears to be at the top of his game with nine wickets in six matches so far, including give in his last two.
His battle with Rohit will be one to watch but he does enjoy success at the end of an innings though so we think he could have another good day out.
Rohit Sharma to score 30+, Arshdeep Singh to take 2+ wickets
IPL 2024 - Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians
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