Playing 11 of players to have featured for both PBKS & MI in the IPL ft. Shikhar Dhawan

The Punjab Kings (PBKS) will look to get out of their slump when they face the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL). The upcoming fixture is scheduled to take place on Thursday, April 18, in Mullanpur.

After racking only a couple of wins in their respective campaigns, the two sides are placed next to each other on the points table in the bottom half. PBKS won their season opener against the Delhi Capitals (DC), and pulled off a heist against the Gujarat Titans (GT) away from home, but have been ordinary otherwise.

MI, on the other hand, began their life under Hardik Pandya with three successive defeats. However, the five-time champions bounced back in style, with thumping wins over DC and RCB at home. A win against arch-rivals, Chennai Super Kings, would have propelled them up the table. But, they fell short and now have to look for momentum yet again.

With both franchises being forged in 2008, a number of talented players have had the opportunity to represent them over the years. On that note, let us take a look at the playing 11 of players to have featured for both PBKS & MI in the IPL.

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Top Order: Shikhar Dhawan, Aaron Finch, and Glenn Maxwell

The current PBKS skipper, Shikhar Dhawan, will miss the clash against his former franchise due to a shoulder injury. The veteran opener played for MI during the formative years of his career, playing a part in the franchise's maiden run to the final in the 2010 edition.

Aaron Finch has represented nine IPL franchises over the course of his career, and his stints with PBKS and MI came in the 2015 and the 2018 edition, respectively. Although he could not leave a huge impression on the IPL, he is still one of the best T20 openers of all time, and won matches single-handedly for his side on his day.

Glenn Maxwell was MI's big money signing ahead of the 2013 season. Although they went onto win the title, the Australian was largely on the sidelines. He switched to Kings XI Punjab (now renamed as Punjab Kings) in 2014, and went onto have a landmark season.

Maxwell was the third leading run-scorer of the season on the back of a brilliant first half in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). He played a huge role in the franchise's run to the finals during that season. He had a second stint with PBKS in the 2020 season, but ended up being a nightmarish set out outings and he was subsequently released.

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Middle Order: Yuvraj Singh, Nicholas Pooran, and Dinesh Karthik

Yuvraj Singh began his IPL career with the Punjab franchise as the captain, leading them to the semi-finals in the inaugural season. The all-rounder had two stints with the team, playing for them from 2008 to 2010, and then once again during the 2018 season.

Yuvraj Singh's final chapter in cricket came with a spell with the Mumbai Indians (MI) during the 2019 IPL season. The all-rounder had a couple of good knocks, but was eventually dropped from the playing XI.

Nicholas Pooran was part of the MI setup in the 2017 season, but failed to garner a single appearance for the franchise before being released. The explosive left-handed batter now does represent MI's sister franchises, the MI Emirates and the MI New York currently.

Pooran had to wait for the 2019 season to make his IPL debut with PBKS. He was part of the franchise till 2021, and his spell was full of ups and downs.

Dinesh Karthik recently spoke about his stint with MI, and his release from the franchise in 2013. The wicket-keeper batter also played for the Punjab side in the 2011 season after his release from the Delhi Daredevils (now renamed as the Delhi Capitals) after the 2010 season.

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Lower Order: Rishi Dhawan, Riley Meredith, Praveen Kumar, Rahul Chahar and Piyush Chawla

The Indian leg-spin duo of Rahul Chahar and Piyush Chawla forge the spin bowling unit of this combined playing XI.

Rahul Chahar was part of the successful MI squad that won the titles in 2019 and 2020. He is now part of the PBKS unit, but is struggling to make an impression. Piyush Chawla, on the other hand, started his IPL career with Punjab, representing them from 2008 to 2013. He has had two separate stints with MI as a veteran, and his still the leader of their spin bowling attack, particularly after his best personal tally in 2023.

Not many pacers have represented both PBKS and MI in the IPL, but the trio of Rishi Dhawan, Riley Meredith and Praveen Kumar provide excellent variety, and decent potency.