KXIP vs MI Match Prediction: Who will win the battle between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians, IPL 2016, Match 21

Mumbai Indians travel to Mohali to take on the Kings XI Punjab. Both teams have struggled to get going in this 9th edition of the IPL with Mumbai occupying the 6th position and Kings XI occupying the 8th position in the points table. Mumbai will take heart from the fact that they have bounced back from precarious situations in the previous editions of IPL and have played their best cricket when they have been cornered. It is usually around this time that Mumbai Indians start peaking every season and a win in Mohali will set the tone for the rest of the season.

With their backs to the wall, Kings XI will use a nothing to lose approach and try to bounce back hard. It's looking really grim for them at the moment but a win here could provide a much-needed boost to their campaign. The head to head stats show its even stevens between the two sides with seven wins each but one would have to put Mumbai ahead in this contest simply because of their tremendous ability to bounce back when the chips are down.

Venue: Mohali

Match date: April 25, 2016

Match timings: 2000 hrs IST

If Kings XI Punjab bat first

Predicted score: 155 and above

They have been extremely disappointing with the bat so far and they need to turn it around in this game. Vohra and Vijay would want to get a steady start and be around 45/0 after the powerplays. The Kings might be running out of patience when it comes to the indifferent form of their key players Glenn Maxwell and skipper David Miller.

Farhan Behardein might find a place in the XI if the Kings decide to drop Maxwell or the skipper decides to drop himself. Axar Patel showed some form with the bat in the last game and Kings might promote him up the order if the need arises. Also, there could be a case for adding Gurkeerat Singh Mann or Armaan Jaffer to the mix in a bid to strengthen the batting.

The bowling has been pedestrian, to say the least. We might see Sandeep Sharma making way for Shardul Thakur in this tie. Kyle Abbott was extremely ordinary in the last game and he would want to pull his socks up.

Axar Patel and Pradeep Sahu would love to pick some key wickets in the middle to put Mumbai on the back foot.

If Mumbai Indians bat first

Predicted score: 170 and above

This is a crucial game for Mumbai in the context of the tournament and their batting needs to stand up in Mohali. Parthiv Patel's place in the team has been questioned time and again especially with Unmukt Chand waiting in the wings.

Rohit Sharma has been in excellent touch and he would have been disappointed for not finishing the last game against the Daredevils. Rayudu and Pandya senior have shown good form with the bat along with Jos Buttler and Kieron Pollard in the middle. It has to be seen whether Corey Anderson will get a game here.

The Kiwi duo of McClenaghan and Tim Southee would like to get the openers out cheaply. Harbhajan Singh who knows the Mohali pitch at the back of his hand will play a crucial role with Krunal Pandya giving him company.

Jasprit Bumrah leaked a lot of runs in the last game and he would like to make amends in this game by getting his yorkers right on the money.

Probable winners: Mumbai Indians