Both Mumbai Indians (MI) and Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) are in need of a win. KXIP and MI have lost four matches each so far in IPL 2016.
Inconsistency has been one of the many reasons why these two sides have failed to make any impact in this season.
The players from both sides need to rise to the occasion and give their best to yield positive results.
The wicket in Mohali has mostly aided the batsmen and is likely to remain similar in this match as well.
The nature of the IPL 2016 has been - win the toss and bowl first and then chase those runs down.
Here's how the match could go:
If Kings XI Punjab bat first: Murali Vijay and Manan Vohra put together a good partnership at the top of the order. A score of 50/0 at the end of the first six overs sets up a good platform for the batsmen to follow. Vijay falls after a well-made 40 and Vohra continues batting with Shaun Marsh to reach a deserved half-century. David Miller finally come in handy with his bat to score quickfire 30 as Kings XI post 175 runs.
Rohit Sharma and Martin Guptill get off to a flier. Guptill throws away his wicket after scoring a brisk 40 bit Rohit continues the run chase with Ambati Rayudu, who looks in good touch. Rohit scores yet another half-century, but he is unable to complete the run chase as he gets out. Krunal Pandya and Jos Buttler, however, take on the KXIP bowling attack and finish things off in style.
If Mumbai Indians bat first: Rohit and Guptill begin with an onslaught at the top of the order. A score of 60/0 at the end of the Powerplay makes things difficult for the KXIP bowlers. But Axar Patel and Marcus Stoinis slow things down and dismiss the openers to expose the Mumbai Indians middle order. Krunal and Harbhajan Singh strike some crucial boundaries and sixes towards the end to take the score up to 160.
Vijay gets out without troubling the scorers too much much, but Vohra and Marsh build a 40-run partnership. The required run rate keeps rising as Krunal and Harbhajan tighten the screws, picking up a couple of wickets. But Miller shows his big-hitting skills to guide his side over the line with four balls to spare.
