MI vs KKR match prediction: How the IPL 2016 match at Wankhede could transpire

Mumbai Indians need a win in their final game at the Wankhede this season, while KKR will want to carry on their good form in IPL 2016

Andre Russell KKR — Andre Russell brings his batting tips out during a training session, April 27, 2016.IANS

The Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders will know the toss will play an important role in their IPL 2016 match on Thursday. Chasing teams have won all three matches at the Wankhede this season, making the toss and choosing to bowl first quite important.

Rohit Sharma and co. beat KKR while chasing and MI have looked their most comfortable while hauling down a target, even if their last win came while batting first.

Here is a prediction of how the IPL 2016 Match 24 in Mumbai might go.

If Mumbai Indians bat first: Rohit and Parthiv Patel get off to a fast start, scoring 30 runs in the first three overs. However, Andre Russell dismisses Parthiv in the fourth over with a short ball. Rohit and Ambati Rayudu put on 40-odd runs together, to take MI to a little over 70 in the ninth over, before Rayudu falls to Sunil Narine. Jos Buttler comes in and goes back quickly, while Rohit also loses his wicket in the 11^th over, leaving MI with plenty to do to fashion a defendable score. Kieron Pollard/Corey Anderson (depending on who plays) whacks a few out of the ground as Hardik Pandya finally makes a solid contribution with the bat, to take MI to near 170.

Gautam Gambhir falls early, but Robin Uthappa is there to give KKR the early impetus. After Suryakumar Yadav goes for 15, Uthappa and Shakib Al Hasan put on a half-century partnership to take KKR closer to the target. When the two depart, the likes of Yusuf Pathan and Russell are left needing 50 from the final five overs. The big-hitters do the business, despite the best efforts of Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell McClenaghan.

If KKR bat first: Gambhir and Uthappa score at a brisk pace, with most of the shots coming along the ground. KKR manage 47 for no loss from the Powerplay overs, but Harbhajan Singh comes in and dismisses the spin-playing machine Gambhir in the seventh over. Piyush Chawla then takes Uthappa's wicket, with Suryakumar Yadav unable to do too much with the bat. That leaves KKR in a bit of a pickle, but Pathan, showing maturity again, and Russell get KKR out of the jam and to a score of 160.

Rohit starts tentatively, as Morne Morkel and Andre Russell beat his bat a few times. Parthiv, at the other end, scores three boundaries off his first five balls, before falling to Morkel. From there, after a bit of a slow beginning, Rohit and Rayudu set the base for the chase nicely, before Buttler comes in and takes over. The England batsman, much like MI, has been inconsistent in his first season of IPL cricket, but with the game setup nicely for the finish, Buttler shows his skills to regale the Wankhede crowd and take MI home with an over and a bit to spare.