After securing qualification to the playoffs in our last outing, Mumbai Indians will be keen to solidify their position in the top two of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 standings. MI take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday and will be eager to end the league stage of the tournament with another victory that’ll guarantee us a top-two finish and two chances at making the final. KKR, on the other hand, still have an outside chance of making the playoffs and have it all to play for on Sunday. Even though MI have gotten the better of KKR more often than not in the past, our previous meeting with them last week ended in victory for Kolkata.    

Head-to-head

MI 18-6 KKR

Form Guide (Last 5 Games)

Mumbai Indians: W L W L W

Kolkata Knight Riders: W W L L L

From the MI dugout

With qualification already sealed, MI could view this game as an opportunity to experiment with some of their fringe players. Having said that, with a top two finish still up in the air, MI will field a strong playing XI capable of getting the job done on the day. This match could also serve as a chance for players who haven’t had much to do with the bat of late and spend some time in the middle. The likes of Evin Lewis, Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya will want to shine with the bat having gone under the radar in the last few games.

Key Player

Quinton de Kock will want to continue his consistent form this year with another solid knock at the top. The South African wicket-keeper is our leading scorer this season with 462 runs at an average of 38.5 and a strike rate of 133.52. He has scored four half-centuries for us this season, including a gritty unbeaten 69 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last match.

From the KKR dugout

KKR, meanwhile, will be charged and confident following consecutive wins to keep their slim playoff qualification hopes alive. The promotion of Shubman Gill as opener has worked wonders for Kolkata with the youngster repaying the faith shown in him by the team courtesy of back-to-back fifties. Gill isn’t their sole batting threat though with the likes of Chris Lynn, Dinesh Karthik, Robin Uthappa and Nitesh Rana also in the team. On the bowling front, MI’s batsmen will need to be wary of the danger posed by KKR’s spinners Sunil Narine and Piyush Chawla.

Key Player

Andre Russell has been KKR’s standout performer this year and will be a massive threat against us once again. He scored an unbeaten 80 in our last meeting with Kolkata and the powerful Jamaican will be hoping to pick up from where he left off when he faces us on Sunday. Russell is KKR’s leading scorer with 510 runs to his name at an average of 63.75 and an astounding strike rate of 205.64. He has smashed the most sixes (52) this season and is also Kolkata’s leading wicket-taker with 11 scalps to his name so far.