Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey

MI vs RR Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report: IPL 2022 Match 9 | MI vs RR Dream11 Prediction Today | Mumbai Indians vs Rajasthan Royals Key Players | DY Patil Pitch Report

Remember the Mumbai Indians? The five-time champions? Well, they’re back after a break of nearly a week, and they have had plenty of thinking time after collapsing in a heap against Delhi Capitals last week to extend their winless run in the first match of a season to nine straight years.

However, what has underpinned MI’s success over the years is their ability to bounce back. The form of Ishan Kishan and Basil Thampi is cause for encouragement, while Jasprit Bumrah will be looking to respond after a tough match personally against DC. But, while their batting looks strong, it is their bowling that doesn’t quite have the same depth to it as previous years, which was on display last week as there was a clear reliance on one or two bowlers.

So, an opportunity presents itself for a confident Rajasthan Royals team. The Royals have caused Mumbai problems in recent years, and it can be argued they look as good as they have for quite some time. Jimmy Neesham, in an exclusive interview with CricBlog, provided some insight into just how well Sanju Samson is going. Prasidh Krishna is loving life alongside Lasith Malinga and Trent Boult. The spin duo of Ashwin and Chahal will be sure to test MI’s questionable middle overs batting. If they can get it right today, they’ll be hard to beat.

However, as the IPL has shown so far, it’s easy to have a bad day. Both teams will be looking to avoid that here in the second day game of IPL 2022.

Possible Playing 11

Zaheer Khan confirmed that Suryakumar Yadav is available for selection. MI have a decision to make on their all-rounder slot after Daniel Sams went the distance last week against DC. Fabian Allen could replace him.

Mumbai Indians: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. Ishan Kishan (wk), 3. Suryakumar Yadav, 4. Tilak Varma, 5. Tim David, 6. Kieron Pollard, 7. Fabian Allen, 8. Murugan Ashwin, 9. Tymal Mills, 10. Jasprit Bumrah, 11. Basil Thampi

Rajasthan Royals are looking settled. Jimmy Neesham is likely to come in for Nathan Coulter-Nile, who is under an injury cloud.

Rajasthan Royals: 1. Yashasvi Jaiswal, 2. Jos Buttler, 3. Devdutt Padikkal, 4. Sanju Samson (c & wk), 5. Shimron Hetmyer, 6. Riyan Parag, 7. Jimmy Neesham, 8. R Ashwin, 9. Trent Boult, 10. Prasidh Krishna, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Mumbai Indians:

• Ishan Kishan’s superb record as an IPL opener continued last week. His 81* off 48 balls now takes him to 636 runs as opener in IPL cricket at an average of 63.60 and strike rate of 157.43.
• Rohit Sharma has historically struggled against RR (393 runs, avg. 20.68). His battle with Trent Boult could be vital here as Sharma averages just 22 against left-arm medium fast bowling in the IPL (23 dismissals). However, given it is a day game, the ball could swing less.
• MI will be hoping Suryakumar Yadav finds his groove right away. He has struck 308 runs in eight matches vs Royals at an average of 44.00 and strike rate of 145.28, although this is a new-look Royals attack.
• Suryakumar has a terrific record vs Ashwin in the IPL (64 balls faced, 93 runs scored). Against Chahal, he has scored 65 runs off 52 deliveries for two dismissals.
• Kieron Pollard strikes at 207 in the death overs in the IPL. The West Indian has not found his groove since leg one of IPL 2021, and his team is in need of a big effort here.
• Jasprit Bumrah had a rare bad day last week against DC (3.2-0-43-0). The star bowler has a fine record against the Royals, with 14 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 17.57 and economy rate of 6.47.
• Bumrah has a fine record against Jos Buttler. He has dismissed him three times in 44 deliveries in all T20s, conceding just 38 runs in the process. Bumrah also has good numbers against Samson in the IPL: 45 balls bowled, 48 runs conceded, two wickets.
• Murugan Ashwin was excellent last week vs DC (2/14). Basil Thampi also showed his wicket-taking ability (3/35).

Rajasthan Royals:

• Sanju Samson started the season brilliantly with a 27-ball 55 vs SRH. He has the most runs in MI-RR matches, with 530 runs in 16 innings at an average of 35.33 and strike rate of 145.21.
• In the IPL, Samson strikes at 144 between overs 7-11, 164 between overs 12-16 and 170 at the death. The key for RR will be to set a platform for him.
• Although Jos Buttler has a sub-par record vs Bumrah, he has an outstanding record overall vs MI. The star Englishman has struck 300 runs in five innings vs MI since 2018 at an average of 75.00 and strike rate of 166.67.
• Devdutt Padikkal looked good in the number three role for RR. He struck 41 off 27 balls in his last match. Also, he averages 83 and strikes at 136 vs left-arm spin, so he could look to target Fabian Allen (if picked). Also, Padikkal averages 60 and strikes at 133 vs wristspin, so watch for his battle with Murugan Ashwin.
• Shimron Hetmyer is fast-becoming one of the IPL’s most impressive finishers. He struck 242 runs at an average of 34.57 and strike rate of 168.05 in IPL 2021 and 32 (13) in his first match of IPL 2022. But, can he overcome Bumrah at the death?
• Trent Boult will come up against his old team after he and Prasidh Krishna dominated SRH in the powerplay. Krishna said that their partnership will continue to grow, and today is an opportunity to do that. Boult has dismissed Rohit four times in 47 deliveries in T20s (66 runs).
• Yuzvendra Chahal has taken 22 wickets in 15 matches vs MI at an average of 21.18 and strike rate of 15.82.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 27, MI 14, RR 12, N/R 1.
• Mumbai have won three of the past four matches between the teams. Before that, RR had won four straight.
• Both Ashwin and Chahal have dismissed Kieron Pollard five times in T20 cricket.
• Bumrah has Hetmyer’s measure in T20s so far: 13 balls bowled, 12 runs scored, three dismissals.
• Ishan Kishan has scored a half-century in each of his last four IPL matches.

Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai Pitch Report and Weather

Two contrasting matches on this ground so far in IPL 2022. In the first, Punjab Kings chased down RCB’s 205. In the second, KKR nearly defended 128 against RCB.

This is the first day game at this ground this season, so batting should be easier under the sun than under lights. If there is movement, it is unlikely to be for very long.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan
• Batsmen: Suryakumar Yadav, Devdutt Padikkal
• All-rounders: Jimmy Neesham
• Bowlers: Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

Match Prediction

Rajasthan Royals look more settled and confident, particularly in the bowling department. However, that alone doesn’t mean an easy win. A score of 180+ in a day game could be a tough chase for either side.