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Preview: M5 - KKR vs MI
13 Apr, 2016
Preview: M5 - KKR vs MI
12 Apr, 2016
What
The Kolkata Knight Riders will be upbeat when they take the field to clash with the Mumbai Indians in Match 5 of Vivo IP 2016.
KKR were clinical in their opening fixture of the season; after dismissing the Delhi Daredevils for 98, they strolled to a 9-wicket win riding on the back of a 69-run stand between openers Robin Uthappa and Gautam Gambhir.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians meanwhile had a poor start to the tournament. Playing in their backyard, MI slumped to 96 for 8 in the tournament opener against Rising Pune Supergiants before a Harbhajan Singh blitz helped them to a respectable 121 for 8. That turned out to be too few as the visitors, led by Ajinkya Rahane’s serene 66, cruised to a comprehensive 9-wicket win.
When
13 April 2016, 2000 Hrs IST
Where
Eden Gardens, Kolkata
Weather
Temperature: Max 33°c, Min 30°c
Humidity: Max 63%
Wind: 11kmph
The Protagonists
Both Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians have several match-winners in their ranks. But there are certain individuals in both teams who have a big influence in the success of their respective teams. Gautam Gambhir and Robin Uthappa are two such individuals who play pivotal roles for KKR at the top of the innings. The team has plenty of firepower in the middle order, and a solid foundation from the openers will only give the stroke-makers in the middle to free their hands from the minute they are out in the middle.
Mumbai Indians have plenty of big-hitters in their middle order. Players like Kieron Pollard, Jos Buttler and Hardik Pandya can cause a lot of damage in little time. It is therefore important that the MI skipper Rohit Sharma and his opening partner Lendl Simmons focus on establishing a platform early on. On the bowling front, in the absence of Lasith Malinga, the onus falls on the young shoulders of Jasprit Bumrah to strike early and keep the runs down at the death.
Head to Head
The Mumbai Indians will have a huge psychological edge when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders. MI have won 11 of their 16 previous matches against KKR. However, last season both teams shared honours winning their respective home fixtures.
Trivia
KKR have been a formidable side at home in recent seasons; they have lost only one of their last 13 IPL matches at the Eden Gardens.
Gautam Gambhir’s batting average of 18.47 against the Kolkata Knight Riders is his poorest against all teams in the IPL.
Harbhajan Singh holds the record for dismissing most opening batsmen in the IPL; 41 of his 111 scalps in the IPL are those of opening batsmen.
What Next
The Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians will be seen in action next on April 16. The Kolkata Knight Riders will play their first away fixture of Vivo IPL 2016 when they visit Sunrisers Hyderabad, while the Mumbai Indians will head back home and play host to the Gujarat Lions.
