IPL2022: Must win game for MI as they will take on LSG

MI will face LSG on April 16 at barbourne Stadium, Mumbai

Mumbai Indians (MI) must win eight of their remaining nine league matches to have a fair chance of making the playoffs, after losing five matches in a row. 

On the other hand for LSG, several players are yet to hit their peak performance levels. The two close losses in five games have left them outside the top four on the points table.

PITCH REPORT:

Dew won’t be the deciding factor, since the game will be played in the afternoon. Small boundaries, we can expect high scoring match.

TACTICS:

LSG- Super Giants are unlikely to change their side despite facing a loss in their previous match, since that XI provides batting depth as well as multiple allrounders. But Stoinis batting position could be rejigged.

MI- One of Mumbai’s problems is that their senior core of Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard and Jasprit Bumrah have not contributed a lotlot in the matches they have played yet.But count the positives, and you will note Bumrah’s yorker-laden spell against Punjab Kings, which could be a sign of things to come, Suryakumar Yadav has continued to deliver runs, and youngsters Tilak Varma and Dewald Brevis have showed courage. 

HEAD TO HEAD :

Both teams are playing against each other for the first time

STATS:

1. Outside of the Powerplay, Ishan Kishan’s strike rate in T20s this year is only 122.63.
2. Dushmantha Chameera has dismissed Rohit six times in T20Is, the most times the India and Mumbai captain has fallen to an individual.
3. Since 2018, Rahul has the most runs in the IPL – 2680 at an average of 53.6

POSSIBLE PLAYING XI:

MI: Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Dewald Brevis, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Fabian Allen, Murugan Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Jaydev Unadkat/Basil Thampi, Tymal Mills

LSG: KL Rahul (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Deepak Hooda, Marcus Stoinis, Ayush Badoni, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, K Gowtham, Dushmantha Chameera, Ravi Bishnoi, Avesh Khan