Mumbai Indians will be aiming to make it three consecutive wins in the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) when they host Kings XI Punjab at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday. MI lost their previous meeting against Punjab earlier in the season and will be eager to set things right. The boys will be in a confident frame of mind as well following solid performances and wins against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Chennai Super Kings. Mumbai are currently fifth in the standings, but they can climb into the top-four with a win over KXIP on Wednesday. Punjab, meanwhile, will also be looking to play positive cricket after a win over SRH in their last game. KXIP are at present third in the table, but a win for MI will see us leapfrog them in the standings.

Head-to-head

MI 12–11 KXIP

Form Guide (Last 5 Games)

Mumbai Indians: W W L W L

Kings XI Punjab: W L W W L

From the MI dugout

After back-to-back wins, Mumbai will be raring to return to the middle for another top-quality show in front of our home fans. The last match saw us defend a modest total and upset SRH away from home. The upcoming encounter though should be a high-scoring affair and all eyes will be on Alzarri Jospeh after the youngster’s dream debut saw him register bowling figures of 6 for 12 – the best in IPL history. Our top order featuring Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav will want to get amongst the runs after short stays at the crease against SRH. All-rounder Hardik Pandya will have fond memories of his last performance at the Wankhede and he’ll know that a similar display from him against KXIP will put MI in the driving seat. On the bowling front, our pacers and spinners will be hoping to replicate their performance from the game against Hyderabad.  

Key Player

Kieron Pollard’s undefeated 46 against SRH was crucial for MI getting to a competitive score. The big Trinidadian was enduring a relatively quiet IPL up until the Sunrisers match, which saw him power Mumbai to a defendable score in the death overs. His brute strength and ability to clear the boundary ropes effortlessly is pivotal to his side’s chances of lifting a fourth IPL crown. Pollard will also have fond memories of KXIP’s last visit to the Wankhede in IPL 2018 when he made 50 from just 23 balls.

From the KXIP dugout

After beating SRH in their last game, Punjab are sitting comfortably in third spot in the table. No longer the team that’s heavily reliant on Chris Gayle at the top of the order, Punjab’s recent matches has seen Mayank Agarwal, David Miller and Mandeep Singh sharing the responsibility. They’ve also got a versatile bowling attack with stars like skipper Ravichandran Ashwin, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Mohammed Shami and Sam Curran, who took the first hat-trick of the ongoing season. 

Key Player

KL Rahul will undoubtedly be KXIP’s main man if his recent displays are anything to go by. Rahul’s unbeaten Man of the Match worthy 71 against SRH in KXIP’s last game was another exhibition of class by the right-hander. The 26-year-old opener also scored 71 against us in the first meeting of the season between the sides in March and smashed 94 in a losing effort against MI at the Wankhede last year.