Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 13: KXIP vs MI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KXIP vs MI Dream11 Prediction Today | Kings XI Punjab vs Mumbai Indians Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

If you were of the belief that IPL 2020 would be one of the most competitive editions in recent times, you would be right. After 12 matches, four teams sit on four points, while the other four sit on two. Incredibly, after tonight, five teams will be on four points, making this clash between an underachiever and the most successful IPL side an important one.

Kings XI Punjab currently sit on two points, but could easily have six. In both their losses, an over of 30 runs cost them dearly, with Chris Jordan and Sheldon Cottrell – both key overseas players – delivering those crucial overs against DC and RR respectively. So, alarm bells would be ringing in the KXIP camp regarding their death bowling, especially given that Ishan Kishan and Kieron Pollard are fresh off hitting 89 in the last five overs to tie the match against RCB. The big question for KL Rahul and his men would be how they cope in the death overs, and which personnel will be employed to help them cope well.

On the batting front, KXIP are looking solid. KL Rahul is the current Orange Cap holder, with Mayank Agarwal, fresh off a superb century vs RR, just one run behind. Also, when you consider the likes of Nicholas Pooran and Glenn Maxwell haven’t yet fully reached their potential, it is certainly a positive for KXIP that they have been able to make big scores. Can they do so today against a good attack?

Mumbai Indians, perennial slow starters, have made another slowish start to an IPL campaign. However, their comeback against RCB shows they can never be written off, as they have a number of players who can deliver when needed. Ishan Kishan’s first game of his campaign was a memorable one, and Kieron Pollard rounds off a top six that is the envy of all teams. Importantly, though, after conceding 200+ vs RCB, can MI bounce back against a side that has struck 200+ in each of their past two games?

The Abu Dhabi track showed signs of slowing down in the recent SRH vs DC match, so it will be interesting to see which side copes better with the slight change in conditions.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• KL Rahul is in superb touch. He may not have been at his absolute best vs RR, but still made 69, a few days after smashing an Indian record vs RCB. The current Orange Cap holder has a magnificent record for KXIP against MI, with 289 runs at an average of 144.50.
• In IPL 2019, Rahul struck 71* (57) and 100* (64) against Mumbai Indians. He enjoys playing this opponent.
• Mayank Agarwal is one run behind KL Rahul in the Orange Cap race (221 runs). He is coming off a superb century against RR, along with scores of 89 (60) and 26 (20) so far this tournament. Plus, Agarwal was player of the match in his meeting vs MI last season, with 43 off 21 balls.
• Kieron Pollard is the highest run-scorer in MI-KXIP matches out of any player in the two squads (417 runs, avg. 32.08, SR 154.44). He is coming off a brilliant 60* (24) vs RCB, and will be key against KXIP’s shaky death bowling.
• Also, who could ever forget Pollard pulling off a heist against KXIP last season? When MI looked down and out, Pollard smashed 83 off 31 balls to help seal a chase of 198.
• Rohit Sharma hit 80 vs KKR on this ground a week ago. Can he improve on his average of 24 in 17 games vs KXIP? (344 runs).
• Quinton de Kock has threatened to go big in IPL 2020, without doing so yet. He scored 60 (39) vs KXIP last season, and has a strong overall record against them: 6 matches, 240 runs, avg. 48.00, SR 139.53, 3 50s.
• Of course, Ishan Kishan is one to watch today. His 99 (58) vs RCB was some knock, and it remains to be seen if he has the energy to produce another big effort today.
• The Pandya brothers both strike at over 170 vs KXIP (172.37 in 7 matches for Hardik and 172.22 in 7 matches for Krunal).
• Glenn Maxwell is yet to fire in IPL 2020. However, the Aussie power-hitter has had success in IPL cricket on this ground, with 110 runs in two matches, including a score of 95.
• Jasprit Bumrah bowled better in the Super Over vs RCB than he did during the match. He has 12 wickets in 10 games vs KXIP. In fact, his best average (20.3) and economy rate (6.5) are both against KXIP.
• Can Ravi Bishnoi produce the goods on what could be a slower track? He impressed with his performances at Dubai earlier this season (four wickets in two matches), and could be key on the larger Abu Dhabi field after a tough outing at Sharjah.
• Rahul Chahar will also be key, as he bowled beautifully in his earlier game at Abu Dhabi in IPL 2020 vs KKR (2/26).
• Could KXIP bring in Mujeeb ur Rahman to even bowl at the death? In 16 death overs in 14 T20 games, Mujeeb has conceded just 6.9 runs per over.
• Mohammed Shami has seven wickets in three games in IPL 2020, level with Kagiso Rabada in the Purple Cap race. Also, Shami has five wickets in two matches for KXIP vs MI (2/42 and 3/21).
• Trent Boult has five wickets in three games in IPL 2020. Also, he has seven wickets in five games vs KXIP.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 24, KXIP 11, MI 13. MI have won three of the past five matches against KXIP.
• MI have a Krunal Pandya headache. Since the start of IPL 2019, MI’s left-arm all-rounder has taken just six wickets in 16 innings. Plus, he’s scored 122 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 107. Can he fire today?
• KL Rahul has a fine record vs Jasprit Bumrah in T20 cricket: 82 off 61 balls with just one dismissal.
• Rahul and Agarwal have scored 76% of KXIP’s runs so far this season (partnerships of 30, 57 and 183).
• Jasprit Bumrah usually bounces back well in the next game after conceding 10 runs an over. In five such instances, he has taken a total of 11 wickets at an average of 11.6, at just 6.4 runs per over.

Possible Playing 11

Nathan Coulter-Nile has been recovering from a side strain. If fully fit, he could replace fellow Aussie James Pattinson.

Mumbai Indians: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Ishan Kishan, 5. Kieron Pollard, 6. Hardik Pandya, 7. Krunal Pandya, 8. James Pattinson/Nathan Coulter-Nile, 9. Rahul Chahar, 10. Trent Boult, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

KXIP have decisions to make regarding their death bowling. Do they bring Chris Jordan back? What about Mujeeb ur Rahman on the slower Abu Dhabi pitch? How will Sheldon Cottrell respond, after a nightmare over against RR?

Kings XI Punjab: 1. KL Rahul (c & wk), 2. Mayank Agarwal, 3. Karun Nair, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Nicholas Pooran, 6. James Neesham/Chris Jordan, 7. Sarfaraz Khan, 8. Ravi Bishnoi, 9. Murugan Ashwin, 10. Sheldon Cottrell, 11. Mohammed Shami

Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report

Time for teams to choose to bat first? In 12 games in IPL 2020, the team batting first has won nine times. At Abu Dhabi, both the team batting first and team chasing have won two games each. Last time out, SRH beat DC comfortably after putting 162 on the board on what was a slower pitch. If the team batting first can put a similar score on the board, it could make for a tough chase, even with dew around.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

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Match Prediction

Can MI break the great KXIP opening partnership early? If they can, it could go a long way to helping them win the match. Also, this one could come down to which team fares better in the death overs, with KXIP struggling in this area and MI keen to perform at their best. An interesting match awaits.

Thanks for reading!