IPL 2020: Top 3 Picks for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders

Mumbai Indians

 

Mumbai Indians

After losing their first match against Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians go up against Kolkata Knight Riders in their second game. Mumbai Indians were in the game against Chennai until Sam Curran’s cameo helped CSK to settle the scores. Though Mumbai started off the game well, they failed to finish it on the stronger note. However, Mumbai Indians will look to overcome their previous mistakes against the star-studded Kolkata Knight Riders.

Mumbai Indians are no short of the armoury in any of the departments. There is Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma along with Suryakumar Yadav in batting whereas in bowling Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult along with Rahul Chahar and Nathan Coulter-Nile. They also possess the best allrounders of the game, Hardik Pandya and Keiron Pollard. However, the team was unable to overcome the hurdle of Chennai Super Kings on Saturday.

When they face Kolkata Knight Riders, the Wankhede Stadium based outfit has to be very careful about their choices in the line-up. Also, the team has to be very careful about the toss and the aftermath at Sheikh Zayed Stadium as the dew can come into the picture in the second innings. Here are the three players who can be crucial in Mumbai Indians’ search for the first victory:

#1) Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya had one of the poor games in the first match of the season after he failed to provide the required impetus to the Mumbai Indians innings against Chennai Super Kings. Though he went on to score two sixers from two deliveries against Ravindra Jadeja, the player failed to get that going. His captain didn’t give a chance to Hardik Pandya to redeem himself with his bowling on Saturday after being dismissed for 14 runs. Against Kolkata Knight Riders, Hardik Pandya has a point to prove who has modelled himself like a Caribbean all-rounder, Andre Russell.

#2) Trent Boult

The New Zealand international traded his loyalties from Delhi Capitals to Mumbai Indians after the play saw a lack of game time at Firoz Shah Kotla. Trent Boult started off well against Chennai Super Kings by drawing the first blood in the first over itself. However, the innings from Ambati Rayudu and Faf du Plessis ruined it for Trent Boult to be the star against Chennai Super Kings. Despite being on the losing side, Trent Boult conceded just 23 runs from 20 balls with one scalp to his name. The player will have a huge responsibility to stop Sunil Narine and Shubhman Gill who are probable to open the innings for Kolkata on Wednesday.

#3) Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumhrah had a bad game against Chennai Super Kings in the curtain-raiser of IPL 2020. Jasprit Bumrah struggled for line and length against the Chennai outfit. Though he had a bad game, the streak of bad games never happens in the case of Jasprit Bumrah. The player is known for his comebacks despite being hit for runs.

All the eyes will be on Jasprit Bumrah when he faces the likes of Dinesh Karthik, who loves to play ramp shots, and Andre Russell, one of the hard hitters of the ball. Can Jasprit Bumrah stop the Russell show at Sheikh Zayed  Stadium?