With each round of games, the value of a victory is becoming more and more crucial for each of the teams in this seasons IPL. This holds true more for the defending champions Mumbai Indians who are due to play Kings XI Punjab this Monday at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali. MI has 2 wins from their 6 outings while Punjab has 1 win from 5. Both teams will be looking for a win as we approach the business end of the tournament when teams begin to feel the heat.

Head to head, there is nothing to choose between them with 8 wins apiece till date. Punjab is at the bottom of the points table while MI is placed 6th. As two time champions, this is familiar territory for Mumbai, while KXIP will be looking to harness the form that took them to their first and only final in 2014. Rohit Sharma-led MI has suffered defeats against Rising Pune Supergiants, Gujarat Lions, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Daredevils so far. In their last match played at Delhi yesterday, the Mumbai outfit lost by 10 runs chasing a victory target of 165. Mumbai’s top-order has failed to come good so far barring the captain, who was instrumental in both their wins, scoring superb half-centuries.

For this game, Punjab has the home advantage and the backing of their fans. Mumbai has to up the ante if they want to see themselves in the playoffs, in the bowling and batting departments. Punjab has overseas players like Glenn Maxwell, David Miller, Shaun Marsh and Mitchell Johnson that Mumbai needs to keep a weather eye out for.

Even though Mumbai initially struggled to get the team combination right, the new lineup seems to function far better. Their convincing chase of 170- plus against Virat Kohli’s RCB should prove that the team rejigging is heading in the right direction.

The Mohali cricket ground is known to favour pacers. And with both teams gunning for a win, a high total can be expected in the match here as both try to get the monkey off their back.