Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians, Indian Premier League (IPL), Today Match Prediction 28 Apr 2019

kkr vs mi Match Prediction & Analysis

The 47th game of 2018 Indian Premier League will see Kolkata Knight Riders take on Mumbai Indians at Eden Garden in Kolkata on Sunday.

Kolkata will be desperate to break their losing streak in the competition. The side has suffered consecutive defeats in their last six games and will need to this game in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians registered a 40-run win over Chennai Super Kings, courtesy splendid performance from Captain Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Lasith Malinga. With this result, the side has climbed to the second position to the league table.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Kolkata Knight Riders Preview

Dinesh Karthik-led unit has been inconsistent as a side and will be desperate to turn their fortunes around in this game. In their last match, Kolkata was comfortably brushed aside by Rajasthan by five wickets. 

For Kolkata, a defeat in this game will send them packing as they will not have any hopes left of making it to the playoffs of the competition.

After being put into bat first, Kolkata managed to post just 175 for 6 in their 20 overs. Captain Dinesh Karthik finished with the top score of 97 off 50, including seven fours and nine sixes. Kolkata will be hoping that Karthik can continue his good form with the bat in the remaining games of the competition.

The top-order once again failed to produce any runs as Chris Lynn and Shubham Gill were dismissed in the initial Powerplay overs against Rajasthan Royals. The duo will need to score runs in this game and help Kolkata post a competitive total on the board.

Middle-order Nitish Rana once again failed to capitalize on his good starts and scored 21 off 35 balls with the help of three fours. Left-hander has gone through a lean run with the bat in the last couple of matches.

Andre Russell and Sunil Narine chipped in with crucial scores in the previous game played against Rajasthan Royals.

In the previous game, leg-spinner Piyush Chawla was the chief destroyer with the ball and finished with figures of 3 for 20 against Rajasthan. Sunil Narine bowled well in the last game and finished with two wickets to his name.

The pace trio of Andre Russell, Prasidh Krishna and Yarra Prithviraj failed to pick up wickets for Kolkata with the new-ball.

Kolkata Knight Riders Predicted Playing XI:

Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Rinku Singh, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (c &wk), Andre Russell, Shubham Gill, Yarra Prithviraj, Carlos Brathwaite, Piyush Chawla, MD Prasidh Krishna

Kolkata Knight Riders Actual Playing XI:

Sunil Narine, RV Uthappa, Shubman Gill, Dinesh Karthik, SS Warrier, Chris Lynn, RK Singh, Nitish Rana, Piyush Chawla, Harry Gurney, Andre Russell

Mumbai Indians Preview

Captain Rohit Sharma has led the side well in the games played so far in the competition. In their last outing, two-time champions Mumbai Indians comfortably brushed aside Chennai Super Kings at MA Chidambaram Stadium.

The star of the show for the winning side was Rohit Sharma, who played a special knock of 67 runs off 48 balls with the help of six fours and three sixes, which saw Mumbai score 155 runs while batting first. 

The innings took Sharma’s runs tally in the tournament to 295 runs after ten games at a strike rate of 131.69. He was well supported by Evin Lewis and Hardik Pandya, who scored 32 off 30 and 23 off 18 balls respectively.

Quinton de Kock is currently franchise’s leading run-scorer with 393 runs at an average of 35.72. He will certainly be eyeing a big score in this game after scoring just 15 runs against Chennai Super Kings.

All-rounder Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya also have contributed with crucial scores for the side in this year’s competition. The duo certainly has the ability to score quickly in the later stages of the innings.

Veteran pacer Lasith Malinga produced another impressive performance for the winning side on the night. He picked up four wickets and conceded 37 runs in 3.4 overs.

Left-arm orthodox spinner Krunal Pandya and pacer Jaspreet Bumrah also bowled exceptional spells in the previous game and picked up four wickets between them.

Mumbai Indians Predicted Playing XI:

Rohit Sharma (captain), Evin Lewis, Quinton de Kock (wk), AS Roy, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Lasith Malinga, Jaspreet Bumrah

Mumbai Indians Actual Playing XI:

Barinder Sran, Krunal Pandya, Evin Lewis, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, JJ Bumrah, Lasith Malinga, Rahul Chahar, Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, SA Yadav

Weather Conditions

The wicket prepared for the game will certainly favor the batsmen. The spinners have struggled on placid pitches produced at Eden Gardens in this year’s competition. The weather forecast for the game on Sunday is going to be bright and sunny.

Venue

Kolkata Knight Riders have lost their previous game played at this venue. Dinesh Karthik and co. will be keen to make amends for their poor record in Eden Gardens. Mumbai Indians have an excellent head-to-head record against Kolkata Knight Riders.

Toss: To Bowl

The side that wins the toss would be looking to bowl first and restrict the opposing team to a modest total. The quick bowlers will certainly struggle to make early inroads with the new-ball in this game.