Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 20: MI vs RR Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | MI vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

It was the start of dreams for Rajasthan Royals. Sanju Samson was at the heart of it all, smashing 74 and 89, to set a platform for the likes of Steve Smith and Rahul Tewatia to do their thing.

However, that was Sharjah. The Royals have struggled badly outside of the ground where they won their first two games, which included the highest run-chase in IPL history. So, the onus will be on their batsmen – particularly the top order – to deliver against a quality a side, after consective underwhelming performances to burst the balloon somewhat.

It won’t be easy against Mumbai Indians, who are finding some fine form. However, Mumbai have struggled against the Royals in recent times, losing their last four games against them. So, you can bet that Rohit Sharma and co. will have the team focused and ready for this important match; a match which represents an opportunity to go back to the top of the table.

The beauty of MI is that they have a number of players who can deliver when needed. Whether it’s Rohit, Kishan and Pollard or de Kock, Yadav and Krunal, there is an abundant amount of talent in the top seven that holds them in good stead. They will be after a repeat here, as well as another cohesive bowling display, after becoming the first team to restrict a team under 200 at Sharjah in IPL 2020.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Rohit Sharma at Abu Dhabi in IPL 2020: 3 matches, 162 runs, avg. 54.00. Rohit everywhere else in IPL 2020: 14 runs in two matches. He is back at Abu Dhabi today.
• Can Rohit improve on his average of 20.13 in 16 innings vs the Royals?
• RR need Sanju Samson to have a big game. He has the most runs out of any player in the history of MI-RR matches (431 runs, in 12 matches, avg. 35.92, SR 144.63).
• RR also need Jos Buttler to fire. The England star has had a slow start to the tournament, but loves playing against MI: 3 matches, 189 runs, avg. 94.00, SR 181.93, HS 94.
• Steve Smith vs MI: 12 matches, 412 runs, avg. 51.50, SR 130.79. If Smith can hold up an end well, it allows the likes of Buttler and Samson to play freely.
• Kieron Pollard is in brilliant form. The MI and West Indian stalwart is striking at 208.97 so far in IPL 2020 (only one dismissal in 163 runs), a few weeks after striking above 200 on the slow pitches of CPL 2020. Also, Pollard has the most runs of any current MI player against RR (17 matches, 251 runs, avg. 25.07, SR 138.19).
• Quinton de Kock bounced back into some form, with 67 (39) last game vs SRH. In even better news for MI, QdK enjoys playing RR, with scores of 65 (47) and 81 (52) against them last season.
• Hardik Pandya has 91 runs vs RR at a strike rate of 185.71. Krunal Pandya, who was superb vs SRH (20* off 4 balls & 1/35), has four wickets in four games vs RR.
• Jasprit Bumrah always bounces back after conceding 10 an over in an IPL match. On the six occasions this has happened, Bumrah has taken a total of 13 wickets.
• Jofra Archer has an outstanding record vs MI: 4 matches, 9 wickets, econ. 6.19.
• Rahul Chahar at Abu Dhabi so far in IPL 2020: 1/36, 2/26, 2/26.
• Trent Boult and James Pattinson have been strong so far in IPL 2020. Boult has eight wickets in five matches, followed closely by Pattinson with seven.

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 23, MI 11, RR 11, 1 abandoned.
• RR have won their past four matches against MI, which makes for an interesting backstory.
• RR should pick Ankit Rajpoot and bowl him against Rohit. In four games, he’s dismissed Rohit twice. Rohit has an average of 3.50 and a strike-rate of 64 against Rajpoot.
• The case for Rajpoot vs Rohit grows louder as RR is the worst powerplay team with the ball so far in 2020. They have taken just two wickets in four games (econ. 8.50, balls-per-boundary ratio of 4.70).
• Should RR bat Samson at four? His strike-rate of 228 in the death overs since IPL 2018 is second only to AB de Villiers and Rishabh Pant.

Possible Playing 11

MI look really settled.

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

Robin Uthappa has really struggled in the middle order for RR. So, there is a case to shift him to opener, pushing Smith to three and Samson to four. Also, Riyan Parag’s poor form could mean he misses this game.

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Jos Buttler (wk), 2. Steven Smith (c), 3. Sanju Samson, 4. Robin Uthappa, 5. Rahul Tewatia, 6. Mahipal Lomror, 7. Riyan Parag/Ankit Rajpoot, 8. Tom Curran, 9. Jofra Archer, 10. Shreyas Gopal, 11. Jaydev Unadkat

Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report

The team batting first has won 14 of 19 matches at IPL 2020. At Abu Dhabi, though, both the team setting a score and chasing have won three games each. In IPL 2020, the average first-innings score has been 168 but the average winning first-innings score is 183 at Abu Dhabi.

Mumbai Indians have won both their games on this ground in IPL 2020 (avg. score 193). Rajasthan Royals lost comprehensively to RCB.

Dream11 Prediction

Option 1:

Option 2:

Match Prediction

MI are the favourites, but the result is far from certain. RR have an excellent record vs MI, and even though MI are in fine form, Steve Smith’s team have what it takes to beat them here. This could be a tight match, where the result will be decided in the final over or two.

Thanks for reading!