Vivo IPL 2017 : Sunday, 9th April
Match 7: Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai (Capacity: 32,000)
Sunday, 9th April
8:00pm IST
If you visit Mumbai’s iconic Azad Maidan, you’ll find a large, partially manicured patch of land in the heart of the city’s financial district. What you’ll also find is hundreds of young cricketers, trying to make a name for themselves in the epicentre of Mumbai cricket, half-focusing on their game, and half-dreaming of the day they will get to play in the colossus that is the Wankhede Stadium, that overlooks the ground. The calls of “samosayyy, samosay garam” are interspersed with a hundred pitches (all far too close to each other to ever feel safe fielding at midwicket), doubtful umpire’s decisions and even more doubtful bowling outfields. It’s a simple phenomenon. Mumbai loves its cricket like fish love water. Few sporting brands have captured the attention of the Mumbai public like the Mumbai Indians have, with their millions of fans dousing the burning-hot city in blue banners and flags.
Let’s talk cricket. Mumbai need a win to arrest their customary early season slide and a strong record against KKR would lead them to believe that this is the chance to do it. The KKR, after a win against Gujarat that we, at CricMetric are still trying to process, both mentally and literally, will believe they can do anything with a bit of Lynnsanity. The match-up leaves it difficult to say which team will win. One thing is for certain: If there’s ever a place for a close-finish run-fest, the Wankhede Stadium is it. 230 runs in 20 overs isn’t safe, as any South African fan would attest. To put it simply, it’s going the be a thrilling contest.
Team Form
Mumbai: L
Kolkata: W
Team News
Mumbai would rejoice the return of Lasith Malinga, who has not only returned from knee injury, but a successful series against Bangladesh and took a hat-trick in his most recent game. However, due to a groin injury to Ambati Rayadu, they lose a key batsman in what will be a bat-dominated game. Harbhajan Singh is likely to make a return, in a bid to curb Chris Lynn. Hardik Pandya’s heroics in the game against Pune was a sign of good things to come, and he looks like a seriously matured cricketer since he first came to the scene. The death bowling looks deadly with arguably the 2 best death bowlers in the world to bowl the last 4 overs, as well as an otherwise strong bowling lineup featuring the highest profile drinks carrier since Kumar Sangakkara in the Big Bash, Mitchell Johnson and the New Zealand pace duo Tim Southee and Mitch McClenaghan.
For the Knight Riders, the return of the allrounder Shakib-Al-Hasan will boost both bowling and batting stocks if selected. Kolkata boast plenty of hard hitting options in Yusuf Pathan, Chris Lynn, Shakib Al Hasan and Suryakumar Yadav, which will serve them well on a generally flat surface. The small boundaries and evening dew may leave them choosing Ankit Rajpoot over the relatively ineffective Piyush Chawla. Confidence will be running high in Kolkata’s camp and there’s no doubt that they will go into the match looking to score high scores.
Pitch and Weather Report
It is often wondered whether the Mumbai Cricket Association bother to prepare a pitch for they flagship stadium, or just take a random patch of flat road from the city (incidentally fairly tough to find what with the potholes and everything) and drop it into the centre of the Wankhede. It would be an understatement to say that the Wankhede is conducive to run-fests, and the evening dew, which plagued every team fielding second during the World T20 and the IPL 2016 will highly reduce the effectiveness of the spinners in the 2nd innings. The weather is likely to be hot and humid, with no chance of rain, but sea breezes are expected to blow through the seaside arena’s stands, helping swing bowlers a bit. The bounce will be true and the ball will come onto the bat and the lightning quick outfields and tiny boundaries will make for many fours and sixes over the course of the game.
Teams (probable)
Mumbai Indians:
1. Rohit Sharma (capt), 2. Parthiv Patel (wk), 3. Jos Buttler, 4. Saurabh Tiwary, 5. Nitish Rana, 6. Kieron Pollard 7. Hardik Pandya 8. Harbhajan Singh 9. Mitchell McClenaghan, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Lasith Malinga
Kolkata Knight Riders:
1. Chris Lynn, 2. Gautam Gambhir (capt), 3. Robin Uthappa (wk), 4. Shakib Al-Hasan, 5. Yusuf Pathan, 6. Suryakumar Yadav 7. Rishi Dhawan 8. Kuldeep Yadav 9. Piyush Chawla 10. Sunil Narine 11. Trent Boult,
Match Prediction
With KKR having the better of the two line-ups when it comes to pinch-hitting, the odds tilt in their favor where batting is concerned. Bowling however, is where Mumbai have the upper hand. Considering both team’s strength’s, it could be said that the chasing team will eventually come out on top, given that KKR would find it difficult to bowl their spinners with the wet ball and Mumbai would struggle to put up the huge needed to win if they bat first.
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Vedant Jain is a contributor at CricMetric. For any queries or information, email vedantja@usc.edu