IPL 2021: PBKS vs MI Game Plan – Mumbai batting or Punjab’s bowling – which will fire first?
The 17th match of the IPL 2021 tournament between the blockbuster teams, Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians, could all be about match-ups. Here, we take a look at a key game plan that could play a role in the seventeenth game of IPL 2021 – PBKS vs MI.
Mumbai Indians have played 4 games at Chennai already, and haven’t yet had a good game batting first. Barring Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma, no one has scored at even 7 runs an over and they’re all averaging below 20 as well (among top-seven batsmen). Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya – none have performed upto expectations.
This could be a good opportunity for their batsmen to finally fire. Punjab Kings’ bowlers haven’t done so well yet, although that’s a consequence of the batting unit not giving enough to defend and the dewy conditions at the Wankhede. While Arshdeep Singh has been impressive, the more high-profile names haven’t fired. Mohammed Shami, Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith have all leaked runs and Murugan Ashwin hasn’t been consistent with his lines and lengths.
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PBKS vs MI: How important will the Toss be?
Neither of these two teams have yet chased so far this season. Many say that chasing is easier than setting a target as the batsmen have an idea of what tempo to score at. Since 2020, Punjab Kings bowlers have a better record while bowling first, while Mumbai Indians batsmen have a better record while chasing.
Hence, the toss can end up playing a big role in the outcome of the match, as both teams are stronger chasing. However, the slow nature of the Chepauk pitch will give second thoughts to the toss-winning captain.
PBKS vs MI: Should MI change the Batting Order?
- MI vs RCB: Score 105/3 (12.5) – Hardik Pandya comes at 5
- MI vs KKR: Score 88/3 (11.1) – Hardik Pandya comes at 5
- MI vs SRH: Score 114/4 (16.5) – Hardik Pandya comes at 6
- MI vs DC: Score 76/3 (8.4) – Hardik Pandya comes at 5
Three times have the MI management sent Hardik Pandya up the order in the middle overs, with plenty of overs left, to build an innings with overs remaining. It has failed three times. Since 2018, Hardik hasn’t had a great record against leg-spin, which is predominantly bowled in the middle overs. Despite a sample size of more than a 100 deliveries, he’s struck at 117, averaging 32.
Hardik is better suited to coming later in the innings. When he faces his first ball in the last five overs, he averages 38 and strikes at 212 since 2018. When he comes earlier than that, he averages 31 and strikes at 149, although this is heavily influenced by a solitary knock of 91(34). Excluding that, his strike rate drops by 10.
MI should instead look to send Kieron Pollard up the order. Many of his impactful innings have come when he’s had time to settle into his innings. In 23 innings since 2018 when he’s come to the crease in the middle overs, he has eight 30-plus scores – all of which have come at a quick rate.
From this graphic, it’s clear that Pollard should be batting up the order, while Hardik should be coming at the end of the innings. In fact, Pollard has a below-par record when he comes in the last five overs.
PBKS vs MI: Have PBKS zeroed in on their ideal combination?
At the Wankhede, Punjab played a pace-heavy attack and a lone spinner. In spin-assisting conditions at Chepauk, they went with only four specialist bowlers – 2 pacers, 2 spinners – along with the fifth-bowler’s quota to be filled in by the part-time pace of Moises Henriques and spin of Deepak Hooda.
The Chennai pitch in their last game was very bowler dominated. Even part-timers like Abhishek Sharma and Deepak Hooda got away with an economy of under 6. While it made sense to some extent why Punjab Kings decided to go the batting-heavy route in the Chennai leg, they managed to collapse anyway. MA Chidambaram Stadium is one venue where a traditional anchor is necessary. Even Jonny Bairstow, who is generally a fast-scorer, had to restrict himself in the previous match.
Two changes PBKS can make are Ravi Bishnoi in for Murugan Ashwin (who’s been inconsistent so far) and Jhye Richardson in for Moises Henriques. Henriques doesn’t offer much to the Punjab batting. He is most suited to the top of the order in T20, and adds little value at 6/7. Jhye Richardson is a more complete bowler, and he has a few variations that can come into play on this slow track. He can also slog a few, but his batting shouldn’t be required if someone from the top-order bats through.