(Info4now: September 23, 2021)- Whether this is the game for Kolkata Knight Riders to unsettle Mumbai Indians more or the latter gears up through overcoming a season long soft target is to be displayed in Abu Dhabi as KKR vs MI contest starts. As I said in the preview of CSK vs Mumbai Indians, it’s the game of bowling, the so far results in the tournament also speak of that. In the first three games, CSK, KKR and RR bring the games home with the excellent performance of the white ball. Kartik Tyagi with a terrific last over in RR vs PBKS game fires up the fashion of the finish in IPL.
Having started the second leg with an uncomfortable loss, Mumbai Indians should not think much on it. Rather to face an inconsistent KKR should be taken as an opportunity. On the other hand KKR’s balanced bowling needs to be more killing. They are the top side with the attack.
Preview of Match 34, KKR vs MI
Subhman Gill and Iyer started well in the last game and they need it again against Mumbai. Nitish Rana is excellent at number 3. Rahul Tripathi at no 4 balances the batting with the hard heaters to come late. Eoin Morgan and Andre Russell are the key for Kolkata. Every possible chase can be a probable one with the duo. Down the lower middle order Sunil Narine and Dinesh Karthik can handle the pressure.
In regard to the bowling KKR’s suits well with the wicket of Abu Dhabi. Prasidh Krishna and Lockie Ferguson can escalate the fumble of the top order. Andre Russell is very consistent while hitting the deck hard or delivers a full length one. Varun Chakravarty is just exceptional with his mind game. He can read the situation well and manage to keep the batsmen guessing. Sunil Narine needs no introduction in the list.
Against KKR’S top order, no doubt, Mumbai’s is far ahead in this particular contest. Every time Rohit Sharma and de Kock start against KKR, they are mentally on top. The middle order being in problem, they have to take great responsibility in the context of their position. If Suryakumar Yadav wants to make justice with his terrific emergence in world cricket, it’s the game to pass that test. And Pollard’s timing of the white ball is much more dangerous than his power.
A tired Bumrah must be supported by Trent Boult and Adam Milne. If you concentrate on the trio, it looks Mumbai have the best pace attack to counter a perfect T20 start. They are very straight with enough pace. At Abu Dhabi they must be looking for some movements. R. Chahar is fit in with the department as KKR have enough number of right-hand batsmen.
Conclusion
The wicket doesn’t look completely lifeless and that fifty-fifty contest of batting and bowling is still alive. So with two good sides with the attacks, it might turn into a fantastic fight. Mumbai Indians will choose to bat first to take off pressure from the batsmen. On the other hand, Eoin Morgan might go for fielding if he calls in favour of the coin.