IPL Tips Matches 69 and 70: Knight Riders must spin it to win it

Click here for Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals odds
Sunday 24 May, 11.00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals IPL Tips

The equation is simple for Rajasthan Royals: win the game to book a play-off against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

They will be grateful that the fixture computer has afforded them the opportunity to do so versus a hapless, hopeless and demotivated Mumbai. It's a gift, a win which kept them alive. They suffered no truck with a target of 227 and it could prove to be a useful warm-up. LSG and Mumbai are similar in terms of two teams that will always give their opponents more than a helping hand.

In Mumbai's case they have used more players than any other team, ensuring that few of their team know what their roles are, let alone nailed them. Take Quinton de Kock for example. De Kock was dropped for scores of 7 and 13 after a brilliant century. How can a player be expected to perform at their best with the shadow of the axe in their peripheral vision?

Early on in the tournament we identified that Mumbai were just not at the races. There was disappointment in that because, man for man, no team trumps them. It was why they were an outright selection.

The big pointer was game two against Delhi when their batting flopped. And team management reckoned Mitchell Santner, who has since been sidelined with a shoulder injury, was a serviceable option at No 7. This in a format with impact subs available and run rates at the lower-order rocketing.

Almost every game since they have been hugely overrated, the market favouring big names and franchise history instead of form. Nothing has changed for this game and it is bizarre to see that the pair cannot be separated. Rajasthan should be clear favourites to take the points. They won the head-to-head by 27 runs and despite early-season roaring form dissipating, they have more nous.

Click here for Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Capitals odds
Sunday 17 May, 15.00
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Capitals IPL Tips

Kolkata will be watching the Royals-MI contest keenly. Defeat For Royals will mean that a win against Delhi will see KKR steal the final spot. Delhi need the same outcome but a massive (mathematically improbable) net run-rate swing.

As well as the previous match being crucial, the pitch report will also be important. After a three-week break the Eden Gardens track looked like the M1 in KKR-Gujarat. The hosts amassed 247 with Finn Allen smashing 93 off 35. Gujarat were in the hunt in the chase for a while but fell short by 29.

Historically, the track used for the game against MI had been a little less high-scoring. But whether MI's total of 147 said more about them than the track is the moot point.  It wouldn't be a surprise if the same strip was used as it is unlikely that there are too many bowler-friendly options.

And by bowler-friendly we mean spin-friendly. Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine bowled eight for 41. Anukul Roy one for six. Camron Green also took two wickets with cutters.

If KKR have any sense they should use the same blueprint for success. They need a track which brings the spinners into play.  That means playing spin bowlers for big-priced man of the match wins is a good strategy. Narine, who has won already this term, will catch the eye at 12/113.00 and Varun at 14/115.00.

For Delhi, Axar Patel's all-round ability may also make him a runner. He is also a 14/115.00 chance.

We suspect this will not be a game for big hitters to swing through the line with abandon. That doesn't suit Allen's game and he will be a short in-play of Delhi attack him with tweak in the powerplay. Ajinkya Rahane and KL Rahul, KKR and Delhi lynchpins respectively, should be suited to a wicket which is hard work. They are expert at finding the gaps.

Manish Pandey batted at No 3 for KKR to top score against MI, another clear indication that the wicket was difficult. Pandey has an amazing record of coming in to a team late in the season in IPL and notching top-bat wins. The horse has probably bolted but don't rule out a runs buy.

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