IPL 2020 LIVE: MI determined to bounce back against KKR

The name Knight Riders last month has been associated with 12 wins in as many games and the Caribbean Premier League 2020 crown. As prefix changes from Trinbago to Kolkata, it will be a different challenge altogether in the same ball game.

Kolkata Knight Riders will open their Indian Premier League Season 13 campaign at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi later today (Wednesday) against Mumbai Indians. The defending champions will be determined to bounce back after having lost the tournament opener to Chennai Super Kings on Saturday last.

Mumbai Indians were off to a flying start as skipper Rohit Sharma and seasoned pro Quinton de Kock faced the new ball when Chennai Super Kings opted to bat. The team lost the momentum not just in batting, but also after a favourable start with the ball and allowed Mahendra Singh Dh0ni’s Yellow Lion’s have the last laugh.

Form of the most dependable Jasprit Bumrah will be a matter of concern for the Yellow and Golden brigade. The architect of many a Mumbai Indian’s wins on way the IPL 2019 title, the seamer was a pale shadow of himself, giving away 43 runs off his four overs without posing any considerable challenge to the batters.

Hardik Pandya had given the glimpses that he has not lost is touch despite a long battle with injuries and lockdown-enforced hiatus from the game. Mumbai Indians will also be hoping for all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile to be available for selection.

His form will be crucial to Mumbai Indians, not just in this game but for their title defence as well.

The UAE has been a happy hunting ground for the Knights, who had lifted the trophy with the UAE had hosted the IPL partially in 2014.

Skipper Dinesh Karthik is optimistic that young international Shubman Gill will exceed all expectations with the bat. Coach Brandon McCullum has hinted that the talented Punjab boy will open the attack. The team has some solid batters in flamboyant Nitish Rana, the Big Bash Hero Tom Banton and seasoned pro Andre Russell.

Sunil Narine has been a consistent and impactful performer at the top of the order in the white ball professional cricketer. World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, veteran pacer Pat Cummins, Brendon McCullum backed by young talent Kamlesh Nagarkoti and Shivam Mavi make the KKR a formidable combine.

Teams (From):
Kolkata Knight Riders:
Dinesh Karthik (C), Eoin Morgan, Nitish Rana, Rahul Tripathi, Rinku Singh, Shubman Gill, Siddhesh Lad, Ali Khan, Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kuldeep Yadav, Lockie Ferguson, Pat Cummins, Prasidh Krishna, Sandeep Warrior, Shivam Mavi, Varun Chakravarthy, Andre Russell, Chris Green, M Siddharth, Sunil Narine, Nikhil Naik, Tom Banton.

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (C), Aditya Tare, Anmolpreet Singh, Anukul Roy, Chris Lynn, Dhawal Kulkarni, Digvijay Deshmukh, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan, James Pattison, Jasprit Bumrah, Jayant Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mohsin Khan, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Prince Balwant Rai, Quinton De Kock, Rahul Chahar, Saurabh Tiwary, Sherfane Rutherford, Suryakumar Yadav, Trent Boult.

The match will start at 7:30 pm India time. The fans can catch all the live action on Star Sports network English, Hindi and Regional channels with a preview and team analysis from 6:00 pm. The match will also be streamed LIVE on Disney+ Hotstar.

Admin Sportz Front

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