IPL 2017 Fantasy Tips: Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab

Transfers made – 1; Transfers remaining – 3

Ishan Kishan out – Rohit Sharma in

(uncapped) Basil Thampi out – Rahul Tripathi in (uncapped trick employed to fit combination)

Uncapped player order: 1. Manan Vohra 2. Nitish Rana 3. Rahul Tewatia

Differential – Martin Guptill

Captain – Rohit Sharma

There is a chance today that Mumbai Indians could react to the loss they suffered against Sunrisers Hyderabad. And if they do, it will be by pushing Rohit Sharma up the order, something that their coach Mahela Jayawardene had hinted at earlier in the season. If you see any signs of that happening, get the 30-year-old in and captain him. It is as simple as that.

Even if he bats at No.4, with Kings XI Punjab’s bowling unit continuing to improve and the fact that Mumbai’s next match is against Kolkata Knight Riders at Kolkata, I see Rohit as an unavoidable pick in this form: he has got three 50s in the last five matches. Lendl Simmons is an equally good pick but bringing him in now disturbs my overseas combination, especially with only five batsmen allowed, so I have decided against it.

Extra Cover: IPL 2017, MI vs KXIP Match Prediction

However, if you have more than 10 transfers left, there is absolutely no reason that you shouldn’t have him. As far as the Mumbai Indians’ pace trio is concerned, I am still sticking to my policy of not taking any of them in, as there has been no change in the pattern of wicket distribution amongst them.

Guru’s team for MI vs KXIP

From Kings XI, I already have Axar Patel. Martin Guptill, apart from his half-century against Delhi Daredevils, hasn’t done anything to force a selection. Glenn Maxwell has been getting more points with the ball than the bat of late due to his inclination to stay down the order. And with both of them up against a bowling attack that has Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell McClenaghan and Lasith Malinga, you should more often than not come out on the right side of leaving them out.

All this leaves us with Shaun Marsh – who would have been a good value as an opener but doesn’t inspire much confidence at No. 3. Among the uncapped options, with Nitish Rana struggling to get runs and Krunal Pandya injured, Manan Vohra is easily the best pick. I don’t expect Rahul Tewatia to cause much damage to the Mumbai batting unit.