The second match of the doubleheader on October 25, 2020, will see Rajasthan Royals (RR) clashing with Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 45th match of the IPL 2020 in Abu Dhabi. MI is ranked no.1 on the points table, while RR are second to last. A win here for MI will take them to 16 points and almost ensure their playoffs’ berth.
Both the teams are on the opposite spectrum of the points table and while one is looking for survival, the other is looking to confirm a playoffs berth. This is definitely an important match for both the teams and hence, Team COC presents the Predicted Playing XIs for the RR v MI match.
RAJASTHAN ROYALS (RR)
Rajasthan Royals are placed 7th on the points table with 8 points to their name and much of the blame has to fall on the team management for backing the wrong players, despite their records. Also, some of the decisions made and then stuck with proved to be failures, leading to the team failing.
IPL 2020: Match 45, RR v MI - Statistical Preview of the Match
RR was heavily dependent on their foreign contingent of Steve Smith, Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Jos Buttler that apart from Sanju Samson and Robin Uthappa they didn’t have any other first-choice Indian players. They have let the likes of Manan Vohra and Mayank Markande sit on the bench and didn’t back Yashasvi Jaiswal enough to come good.
Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler have been amazing, while Smith has done the job in patches; but the idea of opening with Ben Stokes has not only failed but backfired pretty badly. Now with nothing to lose, RR might go for some youngsters and a new combination of the team.
MUMBAI INDIANS (MI)
With no news of skipper Rohit Sharma getting fit from his hamstring injury, it seems Kieron Pollard will continue to lead the MI side. The team has done amazingly well and they handed CSK their first-ever 10-wicket loss recently.
Their players have responded well whenever tasked with doing something. Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar have helmed the middle order brilliantly, while De Kock, Krunal, and Hardik Pandya and Pollard have played their roles to perfection. Even Saurabh Tiwary has done well in the chances he has gotten do far.
MI’s bowling has been on point as well with Bumrah, Pattinson, Boult, and Rahul Chahar starring in their specific roles. They are already a handful and while Nathan Coulter-Nile has replaced Pattinson, he looked impressive with the ball in his hand.
The match will be an interesting one, with RR still harboring the hopes of playoffs qualification, while MI will be looking to consolidate their position at the top and possible playoffs’ qualification with a win as well.
RR COC Predicted Playing XI:
Manan Vohra, Ben Stokes, Steve Smith (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Jos Buttler, Riyan Parag, Rahul Tewatia, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Kartik Tyagi, Varun Aaron
MI COC Predicted Playing XI:
Quinton de Kock (WK), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Saurabh Tiwary, Kieron Pollard (C), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
