Kolkata Knight Riders do not enjoy a healthy head-to-head record against the Mumbai Indians, having managed to win just seven of the 29 matches that the two had played across 14 IPL seasons so far. But the twice IPL champions will fancy their chances to improve on that when they take on MI again in Pune on Wednesday.
They would also love to return to the MCA stadium, the venue of this game, where they had won all their six matches between 2012 and 2017.
MI have kept their tradition of being slow starters intact, losing both their games so far. But more than the results, it's the manner in which the side had lost that should have the team's think-tank worried. In the first match against Delhi Capitals, they could not defend 177 runs, while in the second they failed to chase down 194 against the Rajasthan Royals. KKR will thus look to take full advantage of their unsettled opposition.
Not only had the side's power-hitters failed to fire in unison, their bowling unit too had looked quite pedestrian. Although batters like skipper Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard are capable of single-handedly turning any match on its head, it may just be a matter of time before they come to the party, the famed MI's support staff need to have a re-look at the side's bowling attack.
Rohit Sharma and Shreyas Iyer. (BCCI/IPL/PTI Photo)
With lack of experience, the side's main weapon Jasprit Bumrah is not getting enough support from the other end. While the return of Suryakmar Yadav will strengthen their batting, the team management may mull one or two changes in the bowling department with Basil Thampi, Murugan Ashwin, Tymal Mills and Daniel Sams all going for runs.
KKR, on the other hand, will be going into the match on a high, not only because they were able to pull off a great victory against Punjab Kings in the last game, but also due to the fact that their key player Andre Russell has now got going.
The big West Indian hit eight sixes to stay unbeaten on a 31-ball 70 and took the side home from a position of vulnerability at 51/4. Still, the team will prefer its top order to do the job.
