3 player battles to watch out for in PBKS vs MI, Match 33 of IPL 2024 ft. Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso Rabada
The Punjab Kings (PBKS) will host the Mumbai Indians (MI) in their second of three consecutive IPL 2024 home games in Mullanpur on Thursday, April 18.
PBKS are stuttering in their IPL campaign, and their heroic last-gasp win over GT has not catalyzed proceedings as hoped. Punjab have lost back-to-back close matches, and are reeling in seventh place in the points table. With skipper Shikhar Dhawan still recovering from a shoulder injury, things could get ugly for PBKS if they lose three on the trot midway through the season.
MI, on the other hand, are not faring any better as they are eighth in the standings. The five-time champions had amassed momentum by ending their three-game losing streak and recording back-to-back wins. However, all of their steam was diffused with a loss to defending champions and arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) recently.
The two sides have produced some thrilling matches in recent years, including in the last edition. They traded a win each courtesy of some high-scoring matches, and with both sides desperate to return to winning ways, another enthralling contest could be on offer.
On that note, let us take a look at three player battles to watch out for in PBKS vs MI in IPL 2024.
#1 Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso Rabada
Rohit Sharma has been dismissed most times in international cricket by Kagiso Rabada. The South African speedster has been able to get the better of Rohit 13 times, and the match-up extends to the IPL as well.
Across T20 cricket, Rabada has dismissed Rohit four times, half of which have come within the confines of the IPL, with the most recent one coming in the 2022 edition.
Rohit has managed 84 runs in 14 innings against Rabada in the shortest format at a strike rate of 120.27. He usually loves pace early on, and the kind of length that the South African pacer usually operates on suits him as well.
However, Rabada's ability to keep tight lines and get the ball to nip back in has often troubled the opening batter in the past.
#2 Ishan Kishan vs Arshdeep Singh
The tussle between MI's imperious batting unit against PBKS' versatile pace bowlers will be a key portion of the match. Much like one half of the MI opening combination against one of PBKS' new-ball bowlers, the other half is equally important as well.
Ishan Kishan is slowly growing into the IPL season with his recent contributions. He is making a serious case for the 2024 T20 World Cup being an opener, a left-handed batter, and a wicketkeeper. He has been dominant in the powerplay, helping MI race off to quick starts, but he has a rather interesting matchup against Arshdeep Singh.
Both players have had the better of each other in terms of their match-up, which makes their upcoming tussle all the more interesting. Across four meetings, Arshdeep Singh has dismissed Kishan thrice, but the latter has dominated the scoring, piling on 25 runs off just 12 deliveries at a strike rate of 205.33.
Arshdeep had the last laugh across both matches in the 2023 edition being responsible for Kishan's dismissals.
#3 Jonny Bairstow vs Jasprit Bumrah
PBKS' top order is arguably the worst in recent memory in the entire league, and they need to make a huge statement to turn things around and not leave a lot for the in-form finishing duo of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma.
However, for that, PBKS' opening combination of Jonny Bairstow and Athrava Taide will have to survive the initial MI new-ball wave led by Jasprit Bumrah. The Englishman, being the most experienced in the top order, will have to shoulder some responsibility. But with his current form, he stands little chance against the red-hot Bumrah.
Recently demolishing RCB with a five-wicket haul, the right-arm pacer will fancy his chances against Bairstow to give MI an early breakthrough. The duo have not come face-to-face much in the shortest format but Bumrah has a slight advantage in terms of numbers.
In three meetings against each other, Bairstow has scored seven runs off 11 deliveries at a strike rate of 63.63. He has yet to hit a boundary against the Indian pacer.