IPL 2024, MI vs KKR: Decoding key player battles
Struggling Mumbai Indians take on second-placed Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 51 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season on Friday. MI will look to make historical advantage count given their dominance over KKR at the Wankhede Stadium. On a good track for batting, both teams will have a real crack at things. Here we decode the key player battles.
Rohit will relish facing Starc
Rohit Sharma owns a solid record versus KKR, scoring 1,040 IPL runs at 41.60. The veteran MI opener would want to provide his side an explosive start. With KKR pacer Mitchell Starc being out of sorts, Rohit will target the left-arm Aussie. As per ESPNcricinfo, Rohit owns 11 runs from nine balls off Starc in T20s across three innings. Starc has dismissed Rohit once.
Can Narine dismiss Suryakumar?
Suryakumar Yadav can take the game away from KKR with his versatility. The classy player holds a steady record against KKR maestro Sunil Narine. The veteran spinner has conceded 63 runs from 53 balls across seven innings. Notably, Narine is yet to dismiss Suryakumar, who owns a strike rate of 118.86. Narine has claimed 23 wickets from 21 matches versus MI at 24.52.
In-form Bumrah versus dangerous Salt will promise fireworks
Jasprit Bumrah is MI's main weapon with the ball. He has claimed 14 wickets this season at 18.28. His economy rate is 6.40. Getting Bumrah to bowl a couple of overs in the powerplay could work in MI's favor. Across nine innings, KKR opener Salt has scored 392 runs this season (SR: 180.64). Salt strikes at 183.33 in the powerplay overs, averaging 63.25.
Can Narine floor Gerald Coetzee?
Narine owns 372 runs with the bat this season, averaging 41.33. His strike rate is 182.35. The southpaw would be targeting South African pacer Gerald Coetzee. In nine matches, Coetzee has picked 13 wickets this season at 24.38. However, his economy rate is a whopping 10.06. Narine owns 219 runs in the powerplay this season (SR: 176.61). Coetzee's ER is 11 in PP overs.
