The number two and number three teams in the points table will face each another in an exciting contest of the ongoing Indian Premier League. Mumbai Indians will face Kolkata Knight Riders and the winner of this game will make it into the playoffs until something very dramatic happen. A win will move Mumbai to 20 points and they will be a certainty in the playoffs.
For KKR it is a tricky situation as they are on 17 points and a win will take them to 19, there are two other teams who can finish with 19 points and that can create a lot of drama as the net run-rate will come into play then.
The match has a lot on stake and it is expected to be a close fought contest. Let’s have a look at some players who can play decisive role for their respected team.
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Gautam Gambhir: He has done bulk of the scoring for KKR and has immense pressure on him. Some of the big players from KKR have been disappointing so far and it makes Gambhir’s job that more important. Gambhir has played a major role in almost all KKR wins and he will be looking to play one such knock here.
Debabrata Das: This youngster has been exciting to watch and it doesn’t make any sense why he bats so low. He has been a far better batsman than both Yusuf Pathan and Manoj Tiwary and he deserves a chance at the top of the order.
Sunil Narine: He has been simply awesome in the tournament; he has turned matches in the favor of KKR in the past in a matter of few deliveries. Narine did not bowl well the last time the two teams met and he will be looking to put the record straight.
Rajat Bhatia: He bowled the last over against Chennai Super Kings and he bowled it beautifully till the last ball. He bowled a rank full toss and went the distance on his last delivery. Bhatia is an intelligent bowler and has performed well in the past.
Mumbai Indians:
Rohit Sharma: Last time the 5two teams met Rohit Sharma scored a brilliant century to win the match. He played a fluent innings and was unstoppable. Sharma has a habit of playing match winning innings now and then and he will be looking to play one such innings here.
Ambati Rayudu: He played a brilliant innings to win the match for Mumbai against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Rayudu is a solid player and can play some big shots. He thrives under pressure and raises his game in tough situations.
Kieron Pollard: Pollard has been doing a good job for Mumbai with the ball. He is an awkward bowler and uses his height to extract uneven bounce from the pitch. His batting has also been consistent and he played a major role in Mumbai’s last win.
Lasith Malinga: He is one of the most dangerous bowlers in T20 cricket and he has been absolutely superb in this competition. He is just few wickets away from the purple cap and will be looking to get his hands on what he has made his own.
By Gaurav Jha
Indian Sports News
