-
Runs bet decent option
-
Russell a doubt for KKR
-
Rohit boosted to 7/2
Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders
Sunday 16 April, 11:00
TV: Live on Sky Sports
Team news
Mumbai got a win under their belt against Delhi Capitals last time but problems persist. few will reckon that one swallow makes a summer for Rohit Sharma after a decent hit. Jofra Archer has suffered a recurrence of his elbow injury while Suryakumar Yadav's chronic poor form is a major worry.
They used only three overseas against Delhi which allowed them to sub out Riley Meredith for Tim David. By using Tilak Varma as a sixth bowling option they could be risky and also draft in Tristan Stubbs or Dewald Brevis.
Possible XI: Rohit, Ishan, Varma, Yadav, Green, David (Meredith in or out), Wadhera, Shokeen, Piyush, Behrendorrf, Arshad
Kolkata are reliably expensive with the ball and comeback kings with the bat. They had no right to get within 23 runs of Sunrisers' 228 on Friday but Ntish Rana and Rinku Singh could prove to be the most dangerous finishers in the tournament come the end of proceedings.
Andre Russell looks a doubt after struggling with his fitness so David Wiese stands by. Liton Das or Jason Roy could come in for Rahmanullah Gurbaz at the top.
Possible XI: Jagadeesan, Roy, Venkatesh, Rana, RInku, Wiese, Narine, Thakur, ferguson, Umesh, Chakravarthy
Pitch report
The Wankhede produced first-innings averages of 172 with an average winning score of 189 since 2018. So Mumbai's 157 against Chennai was never likely to be enough.
With KKR's bowling all over the shop there is a temptation to reckon Mumbai can find form with the bat and go over the par line in the low 180s. However, there's a caveat.
How to play
Mumbai have had an issue against spin. Chennai's tweakers tied them down and even Lalit Yadav and Axar Patel did the same for Delhi. Kolkata may well go with three here with Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy and Suyash Sharma as a sub or starter if they bowl first.
That makes the 1.834/5 about Mumbai potentially risky against a KKR side which we still feel has significant flaws.
Still, Sunrisers were supposed to be the side with the worst record against tweak and look how that worked out. Backing Mumbai for 183.5 or more at 1.9010/11 then is a tentative interest.
Tops value
Russell is a win-rate bet at 15/2 and 17/2 for top bat and bowler for KKR but we can't play because he just doesn't look fit. Rinku stands out at 9s for top KKR batter. Yadav is 7/2 for Mumbai to find some form. Rohit will be a consideration for many after being boosted to 7/2 but it's not a win-rate bet.