IPL 2023: 3 Key Match-Ups to Watch-Out in MI VS PBKS Match No.31

IPL 2023: Mumbai Indians (MI) will host the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in match number 31 of the IPL 2023 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 22. Over the years, these two teams have been involved in many exciting games, and the upcoming game promises to be another thriller. When it comes to the head-to-head record between the two teams, MI has a slight edge with 15 wins against PBKS, who have won 14 times against the Mumbai-based franchise.

MI started the 2023 season on a rather dull note as they lost their first two games of the tournament. Everyone thought it was going to be another disappointing season for the five-time winners. But the win against Delhi Capitals changed everything. After winning their first game, MI won the next two games to pick up pace in the first half of the tournament. Batters are slowly coming to their best and the same goes with the bowlers as well. In the last game, Cameron Green emerged as the hero with his all-round performance. According to some reports, Jofra Archer is expected to be slotted back into the playing XI.

The Punjab-based team is fresh from their third loss of the campaign. Since Shikhar Dhawan got injured, it hasn’t been very easy going for Punjab. Liam Livingstone played his first game of the season but failed to deliver with the bat or ball. Top-order has struggled in the absence of Dhawan. PBKS will be sweating over his fitness. If Dhawan is back it will solve a lot of problems for the visiting team. Punjab would need someone from the middle order to take responsibility. Bowlers have done their job in all the games but on a high-scoring ground against a top batting line-up of MI it’ll be a different challenge altogether. 

IPL 2023: Top Player Battles to Keep an Eye on in MI VS PBKS Game:

3) Suryakumar Yadav vs Rahul Chahar

Suryakumar has been a game-changer with the bat for the Mumbai-based team. But hasn’t been at his very best this season. The right-handed dynamic batter registered another single-digit score in the last game against SRH. On his home ground, Suryakumar would love to get a big one for his team. Playing against his old team, Rahul Chahar would also like to play an impactful role with the ball and he would be able to do that by taking the wicket of Suryakumar. Chahar has managed to pick up just two wickets in six games but he has been economical. Although Suryakumar is a brilliant player of spin, stats suggest that he struggles a bit against leg spinners. The leggie has dismissed SKY 15 times in 63 IPL innings. Surya’s strike rate has been a paltry 123.69. Chahar has all the tricks in his bag to get Suryakumar’s wicket.

2) Prabhsimran Singh vs Jason Behrendorff

Prabhsimran Singh and Jason Behrendorff open the proceedings in their respective departments. Both had great games last time when they took the field. Prabhsimran has caught everyone’s eyeballs with his aggressive batting. He stood out for his team with an impressive 46-run inning in a rather disappointing game for the PBKS batters. The explosive right-handed batter played well but failed to take his team across the line. He will be eyeing a big score. MI would love to see the back of him early in the innings and for that, they would deploy Behrendorff. The left-arm pacer is known to trouble batters with his swing and would be entrusted to set the tone with the ball. So far in the season, he has bagged six wickets in four games.

1) Rohit Sharma vs Arshdeep Singh

Rohit Sharma is bound to tackle Arshdeep Singh as the duo opens the proceedings in their respective departments. Arshdeep has had success against the MI skipper in the past, dismissing him once in the seven deliveries he bowled to him in IPL. It is quite evident that Arshdeep has enjoyed bowling with the new ball this season. He has bagged five wickets in the powerplay out of nine wickets this season. The left-arm seamer makes the most of the new ball and he will enjoy bowling in Mumbai where fast bowlers get some assistance under lights in the first six overs.

While Arshdeep has been effective with the ball in powerplay overs, Rohit’s strike rate this season in powerplay reads 150.70. The MI opener wastes no little time to take on the bowlers. Rohit would be wary of Arshdeep’s threat and it will be interesting to see how he tackles his countrymen.