IPL 2024, PBKS vs MI: Punjab Kings Opt To Bowl First As Mumbai Indians Look To Revive Campaign; Check Playing XIs

Mullanpur: In the 33rd match of the IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians (MI) are set to take on Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur tonight, with both teams eager to revitalize their campaigns after slow starts. With only two wins each in their first six matches, MI and PBKS find themselves languishing in the bottom half of the points table.

All eyes will be on Hardik Pandya, especially amidst speculation about his reception from fans following recent criticism impacting his performance. MI, known for slow starts, are in urgent need of a turnaround.

MI, coming off a 20-run loss to CSK in their last match, boast a potent batting lineup but have faltered as a cohesive unit, with their bowling overly reliant on Jasprit Bumrah. PBKS, meanwhile, have struggled with both bat and ball, missing key contributions from players like Shikhar Dhawan due to injury.

With this being Mumbai’s debut in Mullanpur, the pitch and weather conditions are crucial factors. Although rain impacted the last match, Thursday’s forecast suggests cloudy skies with no rain expected. Mullanpur’s pitch has provided a balanced contest between bat and ball, with chasing teams finding success in two out of three matches.

In their head-to-head encounters, MI hold a slight advantage, winning 16 of their 31 meetings. Despite the challenges, both teams will aim to make an impact and secure a crucial win in this crucial fixture.

Playing XIs

Punjab Kings: Rilee Rossouw, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran(c), Jitesh Sharma(w), Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

PBKS Impact Subs: Rahul Chahar, Vidhwath Kaverappa, Harpreet Brar, Shivam Singh, Rishi Dhawan

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Shreyas Gopal, Jasprit Bumrah

MI Impact Subs: Akash Madhwal, Nuwan Thushara, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla, Naman Dhir