Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore, Indian Premier League (IPL), Today Match Prediction 15 Apr 2019

mi vs rcb Match Prediction & Analysis

Host Mumbai Indians will be desperate for a strong comeback against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 31st game of the Indian Premier League in Mumbai on Monday.

Having lost their last previous game, Mumbai Indians will be keen to get back to winning ways in this home fixture. Rohit Sharma and co. will be hoping to bring their A-game to the table against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

On the other hand, the equation is simple for Royal Challengers Bangalore, a defeat will send them packing as they will not have any hopes left of making it to the playoffs of the competition. Captain Virat Kohli lead from the front with the bat to help Royal Challengers Bangalore register their first win of the competition.

In their previous meeting between the two teams, Mumbai Indian beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Mumbai Indians Preview

In their last match, Mumbai Indians suffered defeat at the hands of Rajasthan Royals despite scoring 187 for 5 in 20 overs. Rohit Sharma will be hoping that side can make amends for the mistakes made in the previous game.

Therefore, the team management will be focused on an improved bowling performance than they did in their previous match. 

The home side will be relying on their in-form opening batsman Quinton de Kock, who is the franchises’ leading run-scorer with 238 runs in 7 matches at an average of 34.00. He certainly delivered with the bat in the previous game and scored 81 off 52 balls with the help of six fours and fours sixes. Mumbai will be hoping that de Kock can continue his good form in the next couple of matches to be played in the competition.Apart from de Kock, all-rounder Kieron Pollard is also having a decent tournament with the bat with 185 runs at an average of 37.00.

Captain Rohit Sharma also found form with the bat in the previous game played against Rajasthan Royals. He scored 47 runs off 32 balls with the help of six fours and a six. He put on a 96-run partnership with Quinton de Kock to help Mumbai post a competitive score on the board.All-rounder Hardik Pandya has contributed with crucial scores for Mumbai in this year’s tournament. He also has provided crucial wickets for the side with the ball in hand.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying on the likes of Jaspreet Bumrah, Jason Behrendorff and Hardik Pandya to provide breakthroughs with the ball. Left-arm orthodox spinner Krunal Pandya bowled well in the previous game and finished with three wickets to his name.

Mumbai Indians Predicted Playing XI:

Rohit Sharma (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Lasith Malinga/Alzarri Joseph, Jason Behrendorff, Jaspreet Bumrah.

Mumbai Indians Actual Playing XI:

Jason Behrendorff, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, JJ Bumrah, Lasith Malinga, Rahul Chahar, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma, SA Yadav

Royal Challengers Bangalore Preview

On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore will need to win this game in order to stay afloat in the competition. Virat Kohli and co. cannot afford any more defeats as they have lost six game out of seven played so far this season.

The side has been heavily reliant on the likes of Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers to do the bulk of the scoring. The duo certainly responded in the previous game and smashed unbeaten half-centuries to help Royal Challengers Bangalore breaking their losing streak in the competition.

Virat Kohli raised his game with the bat and scored 67 off 53 balls with the help of eight boundaries. He put on crucial partnerships with Parthiv Patel and AB De Villiers to see RCB beat Kings XI Punjab by eight wickets. Besides Kohli, De Villiers also rose to the occasion with the bat and scored unbeaten 59 runs off 38 balls with the help of five fours and two sixes.Marcus Stoinis continued his good form with the bat and chipped in with 28 off 16 balls with the help of four boundaries.

In the bowling department, the focus will be on pacer Umesh Yadav and Navdeep Saini to deliver the goods with the new-ball, and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal has also put in some impressive performances with 11 wickets so far in this year’s competition.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Predicted Playing XI:

Virat Kohli (captain), AB De Villiers, Parthiv Patel (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Akshdeep Nath, Moeen Ali, Pawan Negi, Mohammad Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal, Navdeep Saini, Umesh Yadav.

Royal Challengers Bangalore Actual Playing XI:

M Siraj, Pawan Negi, Marcus Stoinis, Umesh Yadav, Virat Kohli, YS Chahal, AB de Villiers, Akshdeep Nath, Moeen Ali, Parthiv Patel, NA Saini

Weather Conditions

The pitch prepared is expected to be a placid surface. The quick bowlers will need to work hard for their wickets on this pitch. The weather forecast for the game on Monday is going to be partly cloudy.

Venue

Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai has witnessed high-scoring games so far this season. Mumbai Indians lost their previous game played at this venue. Mumbai Indians have a decent head-to-head record against Royal Challengers Bangalore at this venue.

Toss: To Bowl

The side that wins the toss would like to bowl first and restrict the opposition to a decent score. Spinners will get some assistance from the surface. The average score at this venue so far this season has been around 170 to 180 runs.