Ahead of the 13th IPL 2020 clash between King XI Punjab (KXIP) and Mumbai Indians (MI) on Thursday (1st October), former Indian captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth has suggested KXIP to play Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman to challenge the defending champions in Abu Dhabi.
Both KXIP and MI are coming into the 13th game of the IPL 2020 with a similar record so far in the tournament with one win of their three outings, but Srikkanth has pointed out that the KL Rahul-led Punjab side has not been outplayed in any of their games so far.
Dominating in the first six overs is likely to decide the outcome of the matches in Abu Dhabi, and the former opening batsman said batting is the cause of concern for the KXIP and they must come out with something special to win the game against Rohit Sharma-led MI on Thursday.
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However, Srikkanth has stressed that MI must win the game against the KXIP to get their confidence back to return on track to defend their IPL title in the UAE.
Srikkanth wrote in his column for Times of India, “The tournament has thrown up some exciting cricket so far. We have witnessed some attacking batting and also some wonderful bowling efforts. As the league enters the midway stage, every game from here on will have extreme significance.”
He further noted, “We have seen in the past how one game can turn the final standings upside down, so the Punjab versus Mumbai game is extremely vital. For the champions, a win here is an absolute must, primarily to get their confidence back.”
On MI v KXIP standing in the tournament, former cricketer said: “Easily one of the better sides, Mumbai have managed to lose two out of three while Punjab also come in with a similar record. However, Punjab remain the only team to have not been outplayed in any of their games. They were in with a solid chance in the two games they lost. It's a matter of closing games more than anything else.”
Meanwhile, KXIP were in a good position in their two losses but could not grab the moments and tighten the screws when it mattered most and eventually ended on losing side. Given that, Srikkanth advised Rahul to play Mujeeb against the MI on Thursday.
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Srikkanth further explained, “The area of concern for Punjab is their batting. When KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal click at the top they look a completely different unit, but they can't be stitching massive partnerships in every game. Runs in the first six overs are likely to decide outcomes in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, as stroke-making is not the easiest in the latter half of the innings. Mumbai have shown what they are capable of at the back end and to curtail that, Punjab have to come up with something special. In my opinion, they should play spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman.”
He further admitted that MI have a splendid batting firepower with the likes of Rohit, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan at the top-order followed by the big-hitting Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya, but the cause of concern for them will be the inconsistency of their bowling attack.
Srikkanth signed off by saying, “A strong top or middle order Indian batsman, who can force the pace in the middle overs, is what the teams require. Mumbai look sorted in that area, although the points tally doesn't indicate that. Thursday's clash could well be the game where the winning team breaks away from the rest in their qualification bid. It has been a tough tournament to predict, so there is no shortage of excitement.”
