Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey

IPL 2020 Match 5: KKR vs MI Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report | KKR vs MI Dream11 Prediction Today | Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians Key Players | Abu Dhabi Pitch Report

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What a clash. The kind of clash that makes the wait for Kolkata Knight Riders, one of the tournament’s teams to watch, worth it. Two of the IPL’s most prestigous teams, with six titles between them, do battle in an early-season blockbuster at Abu Dhabi.

And this match has an interesting backstory. 2020 has been one unpredictable year, but one source of predictability is Mumbai Indians losing their first match. It’s tradition. Not since 2012 have MI won their opening game, but four titles in that period suggests there is no need to panic. Even though they miss the playoffs in even years. Or even though Jasprit Bumrah didn’t have his best day out last match. He can bounce back, and so can Rohit Sharma’s team.

KKR were knocked out of playoffs contention in 2019 by MI. And they have a horrible head-to-head record against them. So, it will be interesting to see if that is on the minds of the KKR players who were involved in last season’s disappointing campaign. However, there is plenty to be optimistic about. The addition of Eoin Morgan adds such great experience and dynamcy to the middle order, making for an irresistible top six. Of course, eyes will be on record purchase Pat Cummins on the impact he can make, as well as how well KKR perform at the death, with both bat and ball.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Rohit Sharma has an outstanding record vs KKR. He has the most runs of any player in MI-KKR matches (708), and he scores these runs at an average of 50.57.
• Shubman Gill is an Orange Cap contender. He is set to get an extended run as opener – a position where he has made a promising start in IPL cricket: 6 innings, 236 runs, avg. 47.20.
• He and Sunil Narine can form an incredible opening partnership. But, Narine has just 32 runs in eight innings with the bat vs MI. However, he has 21 wickets against them – the most of any bowler in MI-KKR matches, so will be key.
• Suryakumar Yadav vs KKR: 4 matches, 167 runs, avg. 55.67, 1 50. Saurabh Tiwary was a surprise selection in MI’s first game, and he played well vs CSK: 42 off 31 balls.
• Hardik Pandya was looking mighty dangerous vs CSK before a great catch by Faf du Plessis ended his innings. H Pandya was superb in 2019 (204 runs, SR 191.42), which included an incredible 91 off 34 balls against KKR. Hardik also has 11 wickets vs KKR, and it will be interesting to see if Rohit chooses to bowl him today.
• Hardik vs Andre Russell could go some way to deciding this match. Russell was outstanding in IPL 2019, scoring 510 runs at an extraordinary SR of 204.81. He was man of the match in one of KKR’s meetings vs MI in 2019 (80 off 40 balls).
• Although Russell wasn’t at his best during the recent CPL, he still scored three fifties in four knocks at one stage.
• Eoin Morgan is a superb addition to KKR. His recent form has been full of starts, scoring 23, 42 and 23 in the recent ODIs vs Australia. Can he fire right away?
• Eyes will be on Pat Cummins. His form was scratchy during Australia’s recent tour of England, where he took 1/24 (3) in 0/24 (3) in the T20Is, and 1/74, 1/56 and 1/53 in the ODIs.
• Eyes will also be on Jasprit Bumrah. One of the key Indian seamers to watch, it will be interesting to see how he bounces back. Bumrah has nine wickets in 10 games vs KKR, with 2/31 in his last game against them.
• Can Kuldeep Yadav have a big season? His 2019 campaign was a struggle, with just four wickets in nine games. Prasidh Krishna could be key for KKR at the death – he also struggled in 2019, with four wickets in 11 games.
• Trent Boult and James Pattinson bowled well vs CSK (1/23 and 1/27 respectively).

Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 25, KKR 6, MI 19.
• MI have won nine of their past 10 matches against KKR.
• Dinesh Karthik has an excellent record against Jasprit Bumrah in IPL: 23 deliveries, 50 runs, 0 dismissals.
• MI could look to bowl short at Andre Russell, particularly given the long boundaries at Abu Dhabi. In IPL 2019, Russell’s strike rate was 155 against short pitched deliveries – his lowest strike rate against a bowling type by pacers.
• Quinton de Kock has an underwhelming record vs KKR: 7 matches, 91 runs, avg. 13.00. However, he has the class to deliver, and looked dangerous in match 1 of IPL 2020 (33 off 20 balls).
• MI have never won an IPL game in the UAE. They have lost six straight games, including vs KKR in 2014.
• Kieron Pollard is set to play his 150th game in IPL.

Possible Playing 11

England legend Kevin Pietersen pinpointed Shubman Gill as one of two key Indian players to watch out for in IPL 2020. Gill is set to open. Kamlesh Nagarkoti, who joined KKR in 2018, is yet to play a game due to an unfortunate run with injuries. Many believe he has what it takes to deliver the goods, given his supreme talent. He will likely play his first game, and is one Indian seamer to watch in IPL 2020.

One decision KKR will need to make is who bats at seven. Rahul Tripathi could play as a floater, or KKR could look to bring in Rinku Singh, who strikes at 137.97 in 53 T20s. Also, depending on the situation, KKR could promote Russell up the order.

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1. Shubman Gill, 2. Sunil Narine, 3. Nitish Rana, 4. Eoin Morgan, 5. Dinesh Karthik (c & wk), 6. Andre Russell, 7. Rahul Tripathi/Rinku Singh, 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Kuldeep Yadav, 10. Kamlesh Nagarkoti, 11. Prasidh Krishna

Mumbai Indians lost their first game, but previous years have told us that it is not cause for panic. However, a change they might make in this clash is Nathan Coulter-Nile for James Pattinson, if the former is fit enough to play. Another they might make is bringing in Jayant Yadav, given the number of left-handers in the KKR lineup.

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

Abu Dhabi Pitch and Weather Report

Abu Dhabi hosted the first match of IPL 2020 between MI and CSK. The track had a very decent covering of grass, and the same can be expected for this match given it is still early in the tournament. Scores in the region of 160 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are proving to be very competitive given the longer boundaries, so one can expect that whichever power unit comes out on top at the death could win this.

More warm weather is on the way, with late 30s the forecasted temperature at 6:00PM.

Dream11 Prediction

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Match Prediction

Super Over, anyone? This one has the makings for a close match. Given that MI have a match under their belt and KKR will be seeking their best combinations, MI could have an edge. However, the death bowling for both teams will prove crucial with some magnificent power hitters on show. The team that copes better at this stage could go on to win the game.

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