We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report for Mumbai vs Kolkata Match at MCA Stadium
Both games at Pune have been successfully defended by the team batting first. All in all, it has been a sporting wicket: we have witnessed 9 individual scores above 30 runs, a three-for from a spinner, and a four-for from a pacer.
Probable XI for Kolkata & Mumbai
Pat Cummins has served his three-day isolation and is available for selection.
Probable XI for Kolkata: Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (c), Nitish Rana, Sheldon Jackson (wk), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Pat Cummins, Tim Southee, Umesh Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy
Rohit Sharma revealed that Suryakumar Yadav will play only when he attains full fitness, without hinting at a timeline. Keep an eye on the toss.
Probable XI for Mumbai: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Anmolpreet Singh/Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Tim David, Daniel Sams/Fabian Allen, Murugan Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Tymal Mills, Basil Thampi
Power Players for Mumbai vs Kolkata Match
With 8 wickets at a strike rate of 9, Umesh Yadav is the highest wicket-taker of the season. He has especially been brilliant with the new ball, taking 5 wickets in the powerplay.
Ishan Kishan tops the batting chart. He followed his devastating 81* with an effective 54 off 43 against Rajasthan. More importantly, he provides bonus fantasy points with his whopping strike rate: he has hit runs at 143 since the 2020 season of the Indian T20 League.
The fierce bat swing and the deadly intent to hammer the bowlers are back. Andre Russell changed the dynamics of the run chase, lifting Kolkata from 51 for 4 in 7 overs to 141 for 4 in 14.3 overs against Punjab. He took a mere 31 deliveries to smash 70 runs, which included as many as 8 sixes. In addition to this breathtaking performance, he helped the fantasy players with 2 wickets in 3 overs.
Rohit Sharma likes hunting down the Kolkata bowlers. His last four scores against them read 35, 80, 33, and 43.
Smart Picks for Mumbai vs Kolkata Match
Tymal Mills has a variety of deliveries at his disposal and it is this trait that keeps him amongst wickets in the shorter format. He has taken 2 wickets in the powerplay and as many at the death.
Pat Cummins, at No. 7, bludgeoned 56* off 36 against Mumbai in 2020, taking the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult to the cleaners. With the ball, he strikes at 22.
22 off 15 against Delhi and 61 off 33 against Rajasthan: Tilak Varma has started his Indian T20 League journey with two blistering innings. The U-19 star strikes at 148 in T20s – the reason the franchise invested in his talent.
After going wicketless in the opening game, Jasprit Bumrah made amends with a three-wicket haul against Rajasthan. He took two wickets at the death and one in the powerplay.
None of the top three – Venkatesh Iyer, Ajinkya Rahane, and Shreyas Iyer – has put up consistent performances. Given that they will play on a batter-friendly wicket, getting a good start wouldn’t be that tough a task.
Mumbai vs Kolkata Match Preview
Kolkata have – for the lack of a better word – a reputation for losing to Mumbai. Kolkata have lost as many as 22 times in 29 games against the five-time champions. However, the past data may not correctly reflect the current situation. While Kolkata have managed three wins in two games, Mumbai lost both matches. Rohit’s team, for a change, does not look threatening on paper yet.
Time: April 6, 7:30 PM IST
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