MI vs RCB Match Preview
Mumbai are chasing a sixth IPL title. Bangalore are pursuing their first. Both teams have been poor at the start of the 2024 tournament. Mumbai lost their first three matches. Bangalore have lost their last three. This should be an intriguing tussle in the bottom half of the standings.
Mumbai can look to the batting firepower of Tilak Varma and Rohit Sharma. Varma has hit 127 runs in four innings this season. Sharma, no longer the captain, has taken on a fresh dimension to his batting and has been striking at more than 170 runs per 100 deliveries.
Hardik Pandya and Tim David have also been solid with the bat for Mumbai. Pandya, who has taken over from Sharma as captain, is one of the best all-rounders in the tournament. But it's going to be tough for him to navigate this role as well as the captaincy. That said, he's done it well for the Gujarat Titans in the past.
Bowling-wise, consider both Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee for your Dream11 team selection. The Mumbai seamers have shared 12 wickets in this year's tournament. For other seamer choices, look to Bangalore's Yash Dayal and Mohammed Siraj. They're in decent form as well.
For a leg-spinner of sustained quality, think about naming Piyush Chawla in your team. He has played for several IPL franchises and continues to impress all these years later. Conditions at the Wankhede Stadium could really suit his art, especially if there is some additinal bounce on offer.
Besides Dayal, Reece Topley is another excellent left-arm seamer. The England star is a big asset for the Royal Challengers and will likely bowl inside the opening powerplay again. Swing and seam movement could play right into his hands again.
Weather Report
There is no rain forecast in Mumbai on the day of the match. We're in for characteristically hot and humid conditions. The team to win the toss will likely choose to bowl first.
Pitch Report
A first-innings score of 180-plus should be competitive. Both teams will probably play two specialist spinners - they might even open the bowling with one of them. The Wankhede Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for Mumbai.
Notable stats
Kohli in form
RCB talisman is the leading run-scorer in the history of the IPL and this year's edition. In the 2024 tournament, he has already collected 316 runs in five innings. The tally includes one century and two half-tons.
Team News
Suryakumar Yadav returned for Mumbai recently. Saurav Chauhan has now debuted for Bangalore in the IPL. Let's see if one or both are retained this time.
MI vs RCB Probable 11
MI Playing 11
- Rohit Sharma
- Ishan Kishan (Wk)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Hardik Pandya (C)
- Tilak Varma
- Tim David
- Romario Shepherd
- Mohammad Nabi
- Gerald Coetzee
- Piyush Chawla
- Jasprit Bumrah
RCB Playing 11
- Virat Kohli
- Faf du Plessis (C)
- Glenn Maxwell
- Saurav Chauhan
- Cameron Green
- Rajat Patidar
- Dinesh Karthik (Wk)
- Reece Topley
- Mayank Dagar
- Mohammed Siraj
- Yash Dayal
Dream11 Prediction
Mumbai's momentum from beating the Delhi Capitals recently and their homeground advantage should bring victory here. Bangalore's batting depth, outside of Kohli, has been questionable at best lately.
Top Picks
Virat Kohli: You can't look past the tournament's historical and seasonal leading run-scorer for your Dream11
Piyush Chawla: He is one of the best leg-spinners in the tournament - and has been for an extended period
Cameron Green: There will be many powerful all-rounders in this fixture, including RCB's Australian kingpin
MI vs RCB Dream11 Team 1
Keeper: Ishan Kishan
Batters: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Faf du Plessis (VC)
All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Hardik Pandya (C), Cameron Green, Romario Shepherd
Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee
