English
There are only four league matches left now until the playoffs start from May 16 but except Mumbai Indians no other team has put a rubber-stamp on the remaining three playoff spots. Kolkata Knight Riders are almost through but a win in Saturday’s match against Mumbai Indians will confirm their place.
Kolkata would be confident of the fact that they are playing at home and have to bring out their top form to beat an all-round Mumbai Indians side. Gautam Gambhir-led KKR have one foot in the knockout stage with 16 points from 13 games.
Meanwhile, Kings XI Punjab have emerged as a playoff contender after two successive wins. Punjab are placed fifth with 14 points from 13 matches.
Mumbai in their last game, lost by seven runs chasing a stiff target of 231 runs set by Punjab. They almost pulled off the win with Lendl Simmons (59), Parthiv Patel (38), Kieron Pollard (50*) and Hardik Pandya (30) chipping in during the chase.
On the other hand, Kolkata failed to chase down a modest 168 against Punjab, despite Chris Lynn contributing with a fifty.
But for Kolkata, the form of Yusuf Pathan is a bit of concern. Mumbai in this season have not been not dependant on a single batsman, rather they have played as a unit.
Pollard has been Mumbai’s highest run-getter this season with 349 runs from 12 innings but doesn’t feature in the top-10 scorers scorers in IPL 2017.
In bowling, Mumbai look settled with their bowlers in prime form. Mitchell McClenaghan is one of the leading wicket-takers with 18 wickets and Jasprit Bumrah on the trail with 15 wickets.
Kolkata have been bolstered by the return of Chris Lynn from a month-long shoulder lay-off and still looks in great touch.
Apart from the Australian, Gambhir, Robin Uthappa and Manish Pandey make a solid batting order.
The ploy of promoting Sunil Narine as opener has worked for Kolkata but looks like Gambhir will be opening with Lynn. This season, both the teams last met more than a month ago with Nitish Rana turning the match in Mumbai’s favour by hitting a match-winning 29-ball 50.
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