Playing XI
Top Fantasy Picks-All Rounders
With 10 wickets in just 6 matches so far, Morris is proving out to be a match-winner with the ball for Bengaluru. Little does everybody know that he can be more than handy with the bat as well.
With 60* from just 21 balls the other night, Hardik proves why he is very crucial down the order with the bat. A look at his last 4 matches against Bengaluru: 15, 37*, 32* and 50.
The last time Pollard played against Bengaluru, he scored 60* from just 24 balls. Not only has he done more than well at Abu Dhabi with the bat but also taken 2 wickets at this venue with the ball this season.
Top Fantasy Picks-Bowlers
With 17 wickets so far in the season, Bumrah is joint 3rd in the list of Purple Cap holders. Being wicket-less in the last match, do watch out for him as he has come back strongly after every wicket-less match so far this season.
Boult has an impressive record against Bengaluru in the IPL with never being wicket-less against them. Boult’s performances against Bengaluru in the IPL: 2/34 (this season), 2/40, 1/33 and 3/36.
Chahal has taken 7 wickets in his last 3 matches against Mumbai which includes big names such as de Kock, Surya and Pollard; making him crucial against Mumbai’s core batsmen.
Top Fantasy Picks-Batsmen and Keepers
AB de Villiers has scores of 55*(this season), 75 and 70* in the last 3 matches against Mumbai. Also, he can give you bonus fantasy points as he will continue to keep the wickets for Bengaluru.
Suryakumar’s scores at Abu Dhabi this season: 40, 10, 53, 79*, 10, 47 and 17. Thus he has been blowing hot and cold but performing pretty consistently.
Since Rohit’s absence, Kishan has taken the duty of opening and has not disappointed with scores of 37 and 68*. Also, his highest score in the IPL (99 from 58 balls) was against Bengaluru earlier this season.
Probable XI
Mumbai - Quinton de Kock (wk), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard (c), Krunal Pandya, James Pattinson, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah.
Bangalore - Devdutt Padikkal, Aaron Finch, Virat Kohli (c), AB de Villiers (wk), Moeen Ali, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Chris Morris, Washington Sundar, Navdeep Saini, Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Preview
Match number 48 sees the face-off between Bangalore and Mumbai in Abu Dhabi. Bangalore were defeated in their last game against Chennai as they failed collectively as a unit.
Their batting was shoddy and only Kohli and de Villiers looked settled at the crease. The bowling was not upto the mark as they gave away too many freebies and ended up losing the game by 8 wickets.
Mumbai, on the other hand, are sweating on the fitness of Rohit Sharma and although he has returned to the nets, it will be interesting to see if he plays.
In their last match, they were brought down by a Ben Stokes special but will be happy with the performance of Hardik Pandya.
They are a strong side and expect them to make a strong comeback. Who will confirm their place in the playoffs?
Toss
Mumbai won the toss and elected to bowl first.