MI secured their spot in this crucial match by defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) by 20 runs in the Eliminator held in New Chandigarh on Friday. Conversely, PBKS suffered a defeat against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) earlier this week, but their strong league performance has given them another chance to claim a place in the final.
Both teams arrive at this matchup with different recent performances. MI showcased an impressive batting display against GT, scoring 228 runs. Although Sai Sudharsan’s standout innings closed the gap in the second innings, their bowling, led by Jasprit Bumrah, helped them clinch victory convincingly.
In contrast, PBKS struggled against RCB, being bowled out for just 101, causing a drop in morale as they attempted to defend that score.
Predicted Line-ups
PBKS: Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya, Shreyas Iyer (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Nehal Wadhera, Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Azmatullah Omarzai, Harpreet Brar, Arshdeep Singh, Kyle Jamieson, Vijaykumar Vyshak
MI: Rohit Sharma, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Raj Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Richard Gleeson, Ashwani Kumar
Key Players to Watch Out
Shreyas Iyer (Punjab Kings)
The captain of PBKS has impressively notched five half-centuries this season, hitting 32 sixes and maintaining a strike rate of 171. His capacity to dominate bowlers during the crucial middle and death overs positions him as a key asset for the team, who will rely on his form in the next match.
Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians)
Hardik Pandya provided MI with a vital edge in the last match, blasting three sixes off Gerald Coetzee in the final over. However, his bowling effectiveness has notably declined towards the end of this season, an area he will be keen to improve in such a critical knockout game.
Pitch Report
The average total for first innings in T20 matches at this venue is 160, yet current trends suggest a higher-scoring game could be on the horizon, as the 200-run mark has been exceeded several times, particularly during the league phase.
Weather Report
Ahmedabad is forecasted to experience partly cloudy skies with temperatures around 32°C, humidity at approximately 54%, no precipitation expected, and winds blowing at 21 km/hr during the match.
Where to Watch
The match will be available for live streaming on the JioHotstar application and will be broadcast simultaneously on the Star Sports Network at the specified time.
