Picture Credit: IPL/MI
In a desperate attempt to turn around their failing campaign, defending champions Mumbai Indians are expected to take certain stringent measures for the match against Punjab Kings. While the five-time champions are known to back their players and make minimal changes in their XI, the management could be forced to make certain changes in their XI against Punjab as they are placed seventh in the points table.
It is being reported that all-rounder Krunal Pandya could be dropped from their XI after a string of low scores (121 runs in 10 matches this year). Moreover, Krunal wasn't as effective with the ball in recent games ( 3 wickets in 10 matches in IPL 2021) which may have further worked against him.
Piyush Chawla, Chris Lynn to replace Krunal and Adam Milne: Reports
The team, as per reports, is looking at experienced spinner Piyush Chawla as his replacement. To make up for Krunal's batting, the Rohit Sharma-led side may reportedly include Chris Lynn in place of Adam Milne who again has not performed as per expectations.
While Mumbai ended the first half of IPL 2021 with eight points and were placed fourth, they have failed to add anything to their points section in the first three matches of the UAE-leg of the competition. Consequently, they still have only eight points with four more matches to be played and have taken the penultimate place in the tally.
9,8,5,7,3,0,0,5 and 0*- Scores of MI batters from number 3 to number 11 against RCB
Mumbai's poor run of play continued against Bangalore where they succumbed to a 54-run defeat. While Rohit and Quinton de Kock had helped the team off to a great start chasing 166, no other batter could even add a double-digit score. The scores of the other batters in the order in which they came out to bat reads- 9,8,5,7,3,0,0,5 and 0*.
MI's middle order has repeatedly let them down in this year's competition and is one the main reasons why they haven't been able to repeat their success of last year. Ishan Kishan has just managed 100 runs while Suryakumar Yadav hasn't done too well either with just 189 runs.
The match against Punjab will be a huge game for both the teams and it will be staged at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium. Both the teams have played the same number of matches and have the same points but it is the net run rate that separates them with Punjab ranked higher.