KKR have an unenviable record against MI, having lost 22 of the 27 head-to-head matches. But Mumbai are more vulnerable than usual this time around. They have found it difficult to adjust after losing some of their key players to other IPL teams at the IPL 2022 auction and are coming off back-to-back defeats in the tournament.
Yadav has been out of action since February due to a hairline fracture on his thumb. He has scored 285 runs at an average of 40.71 and a strike rate of 145.41 against KKR. But more importantly, he’s MI’s best player of spin and the five-time champions will need his prowess against Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.
Making his prediction for the match in an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Shastri said:
MI have been let down by their bowling attack which is looking overdependent on Jasprit Bumrah. Shastri envisaged a chess-like contest where both Bumrah and KKR batters would try to make use of this unprecedented situation.
Shastri explained:
Unlike Yadav, Bumrah’s average against KKR is his second-worst among all IPL opponents (minimum of five matches). The right-arm pacer has picked up 15 wickets from 14 matches against Kolkata at an average of 28.27.
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“For me, Pat Cummins is the best cricketer in the world” - Ravi Shastri
While MI will look to Bumrah for inspiration, KKR will welcome back Pat Cummins with open arms. The in-form Australian Test captain missed the first three games due to international duty and is now available to don Kokata’s colors.
Explaining how big a boost it is, Shastri called Cummins the “best cricketer in the world” with a remarkable sense of responsibility and unmatched intensity. The former Indian all-rounder said:
It will be interesting to see how KKR include the right-arm pacer in the team. Tim Southee seems to be the only option to make way for Cummins. But the New Zealand pacer has been brilliant so far, picking up five wickets in two games.
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