In the 36th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, Mumbai Indians (MI) will be locking horns with the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday. MI has won six matches out of the eight they have played so far, owing to some brilliant performance by their fast bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult.
Even if bowlers fail to perform, batsmen like Quinton de Kock and Suryakumar Yadav have managed to produce some consistent performances which have helped MI to stand at the second position on the IPL 2020 points table. As for the KXIP, their plans have not been executed well and despite the fact that they won their last match against RCB, it was only their second win of the season. However, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal are leading the run-scoring charts, but KXIP has failed to cease the crucial moments.
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With their backs up against the wall and Chris Gayle back in the side, a rejuvenated KXIP side will bank on their power-packed batting unit to get the better of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. With two very formidable batting units locking horns on Sunday, one can expect an action-packed match to close out what promises to be an entertaining double-header in the IPL.
As the two sides prepare for a thrilling encounter, here’s a look at three key player battles to keep an eye on.
#1. Jasprit Bumrah vs KL Rahul
While Jasprit Bumrah for sure has had the better IPL 2020 so far, KL Rahul is the highest run-scorer of the tournament. He has 448 runs from eight matches at a strike rate of 133.33. Bumrah was a little underboiled when IPL 2020 got off and Trent Boult filled in admirably. But India’s fast-bowling spearhead Bumrah has got better as the tournament progressed.
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He has 11 wickets from seven IPL 2020 games, at an economy of 7.92. He bowled a brilliant spell of 4/20 against the Rajasthan Royals. KXIP would be hoping for big things from Rahul as they progress on their unsteady way, while MIs would love Bumrah to be firing on all cylinders as IPL 2020 is nearing towards the business end.
#2. Rohit Sharma vs Mohammed Shami
Mohammed Shami has been not been able to produce the performance he was expected ahead of IPL 2020. He will be optimistic to get his form back especially against MI skipper Rohit Sharma, whose sublime stroke play can ruin the bowling figures of some of the best in the business. Rohit is amongst the top run-scorers in the ongoing edition, having scored 251 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 130.05. He has been ensuring a quick start for MI and he is yet to hit the heights of his capability.
#3. Surya Kumar Yadav vs Ravi Bishnoi
Suryakumar Yadav is quite the enigma for Mumbai Indians. He holds the lowest profile, quite happy for the glitz and glamour to be on the superstars while he gets on with his job. He has amassed 243 runs from eight matches with the help of a couple of half-centuries. In IPL history, the Mumbai batsman has played 92 matches for 1,791 runs at a strike rate of 134.35.
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Ravi Bishnoi has been as consistent for KXIP as he has claimed eight wickets in eight matches but they all have been important wickets, at critical stages, and maintained the economy is 8.03. Bishnoi will have his task cut out against Yadav and the daunting Mumbai Indians batting.
