IPL 2018, KXIP vs MI: 5 player battles to look forward to

#3 Ankit Rajpoot v Suryakumar Yadav

Ankit Rajpoot

The KXIP introduced fast bowler Ankit Rajpoot into their playing XI three games ago and his inclusion has already proven to be a masterstroke. In three games so far, he has picked up 7 wickets at an outstanding economy rate of 6.27 and in his last game, he picked up 5-14 against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

He can bowl with serious pace and can extract bounce from most surfaces due to his height, which is why his opening spell is going to be crucial for KXIP.

However, his battle with MI’s opening batsman Suryakumar Yadav will be fascinating to watch. The right-handed batsman is excellent against pace and not averse to playing the hook shot, which makes it a battle in which both will be unwilling to give an inch. If MI are to put up a big total tonight, then Yadav must do well and it his battle with Rajpoot that will have a huge bearing on that.