IPL 2018, KKR vs MI: 5 players to look forward to

After yesterday’s result, RR have some hope of making it to the playoffs. But more importantly, SRH and CSK look most certain to reach the playoffs without any worries. That leaves two spots for grabs and at least 5 teams who are looking at a chance to make it to the playoffs.

Today’s clash sees a resurgent MI take on a side they enjoy playing against- Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In 22 games in the VIVO IPL, MI have won 17 times to Kolkata’s 5. That’s some confidence to head into a do or die clash for MI.

KKR, on the other hand, would want to not think too much about the history and statistics and stay focused on executing their plans to the best of their abilities.

In what promises to be a mouth-watering clash between KKR and MI at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, here’s looking at 5 players to look forward to:

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Suryakumar Yadav

A batsman who has grown in confidence and stature, Suryakumar Yadav has been the core of MI’s batting this season. Having come in to this IPL with a fantastic Ranji trophy season, he has made it count where it matters.

He was impressive in the middle-order for KKR in previous seasons of the IPL, but he rightly got the opening position for MI and he has delivered. Consistent performances has been the highlight of Suryakumar's IPL this year , he ensures MI get off to flying starts always.

The dashing Mumbaikar is fourth in the list of highest run getters in IPL 2018. He has amassed 399 runs in 10 matches with an impressive strike rate of 132.12 and average of 39.90. The best part about his batting is how beautifully he paces his innings.

With 4 matches left where MI would have to win all of them to make it to the playoffs, they will surely hope Suryakumar can continue with his good form and propel Mumbai Indians to success. With Rohit Sharma having a below par IPL with the bat, this youngster has put up his hand and become MI's most bankable batsman this season.

Dinesh Karthik

There were a lot of apprehensions whether Dinesh Karthik would be the right man to captain KKR especially after Gautam Gambhir had achieved so much as a player and captain in the previous seasons for the Knights.

Things didn’t start too rosily for DK as he was questioned by all and sundry about his resource management skills, especially with the way he handled Vinay Kumar at the start of VIVO IPL 2018. But one must admit that post the initial hiccups, DK has grown in confidence as a captain and that’s carried forward in the way he’s keeping and batting too.

His unique style of captaining, where he’s more hands-on compared to some of the other captains is what stands out. In what started as a weakness, has become his biggest strength - resource management.

The way he’s handled the three spinners, using them in critical junctures of a game and usually in partnerships is refreshing to see. Also, the way he’s groomed the likes of Shivam Mavi and Shubman Gill is good to see. He hasn't shied away from throwing them into difficult situations.

Shivam Mavi after going for plenty of runs in a couple of games could have well been dropped. But not only did DK and the team management back him, but they had the confidence to hand him the ball in the crucial death overs.

Even Shubman Gill was being wasted down the order, so when Nitish Rana was injured, Gill was promoted up the order and he showed us why he’s such a talented batsmen. DK could have promoted himself, but he allowed Shubman Gill few games to get adjusted to the IPL and what's expected from him and when the right time arrived, he was pushed up the batting order.

DK as a batsman is at the peak of his abilities. It started with his series winning antics in the Nidahas Trophy against Bangladesh for India. The ease at which he’s able to immediately able to gauge the situation of the game and score runs has helped KKR a lot. He is their leading run scorer with 319 runs from 10 games at a destructive strike rate of 147.66 and at an average of 52.67.

KKR would hope the able leader and destructive batsman both show up in this crucial fixture against MI at their home ground in Kolkata.

Hardik Pandya

It was evident at the start of this year’s IPL that the fortunes of the MI franchise will depend on the performance of their star all-rounders Hardik and Krunal Pandya. As not only are both destructive batsmen, both can bowl four overs and are fantastic in the field too.

With the big man Kieron Pollard failing miserably in this year's IPL, the pressure has increased on Hardik Pandya’s shoulders to score runs quickly and bowl his quota of overs well. He started this IPL slowly, but in the past few games has taken on the responsibility very well and has delivered both with the bat and ball.

He has scored 169 runs in 9 matches at a strike rate of 128.03, but it’s his bowling which has ensured MI’s resurgence in the last few matches. In a crunch situation. Hardik Pandya- the bowler has delivered when it was required for his team.

He has got 14 wickets in 9 matches, putting him in line to get hold of the purple cap. With Jasprit Bumrah also finding full form in the past few games, MI look stronger and more balanced as a team.

They would certainly hope that Hardik Pandya’s all-round consistency will continue in the remainder of the four games starting tonight against KKR.

Andre Russell

There is no doubt that Andre Russell can turn games with hitting ability. If there is anyone in world cricket who can compete with the likes of Chris Gayle and AB Devilliers in the T20 format, in terms of hitting ability it would have to Andre Russell.

Such is his ability that he can demolish any opposition if he gets going. His clean striking can dent the confidence of the bowlers and put them off their plans very quickly. Owing to a niggling hamstring problem, he hasn’t had a consistent run with the bat for KKR this season.

He started off by marauding the returning CSK side in a display of sheer force and power. But since then his bat hasn’t done too much talking. He has the tendency to attack spinners too early without assessing the conditions properly, and that’s led to his downfall this IPL.

Still, he has made an impact and KKR would hope he gets into his attacking best against MI tonight. In 8 games he has managed to hit 216 runs at a mind-boggling strike rate of 192.86 along with taking 7 wickets.

KKR would hope Andre Russell does tee off today, and if he does then there’s no stopping this run machine who is a real treat to watch when he is in full flow. It's a high-pressure game with the stakes being really high- kind of an environment where a player of Andre Russell's caliber thrives the most!

Rohit Sharma

Everyone expected Rohit Sharma to have a fantastic IPL. His ability to strike the ball cleanly and the fact that he is the skipper of the defending champions MI should have given him the morale boost to deliver.

But so far, Rohit Sharma has delivered only in two games with the bat, and his captaincy hasn’t been that impressive compared to the captains of the other franchises. He is still to figure out which position to bat in. It's a lack of self-confidence, which is evident to everyone.

A person who possesses such good striking ability should always bat in the top three irrespective of the match situation or the pitch conditions. Even after 10 games, Rohit Sharma doesn’t know where he wants to bat, which is a cause for concern.

Also, as a captain, he has found his mojo after few disappointing losses. There are few aspects of his bowling which are a concern for MI if they want to qualify for the playoffs. He’s not finishing the full quota of four overs of someone like Mayank Markhande who has been so impressive in this IPL by getting 13 wickets.

One big area of concern which he needs to sort out quickly is who bowls the 20th over of the innings. That has ailed MI so far as they have lost games in the last over. He has tried four different bowlers in their last four outings and luckily Krunal Pandya delivered against KKR at the Wankhede.

The question he has to ask himself is whether he should stick to Krunal as the bowler who can finish games which is unlikely, or if he should give the ball to the best bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

MI fans would hope that Rohit Sharma has answers to all these questions when they face off against KKR in what again is a do or die contest.