IPL 2021 Match 17: PBKS and MI would look to get back to winning ways

The switch from fast-paced Wankhede wickets to slow Chepauk pitches had an immediate impact on Punjab Kings' results, as they failed to adapt quickly and suffered their third loss in four games. However, it isn't the only reason they are currently at the bottom of the table. They've been plagued by inconsistency in both their batting and bowling due to their inability to find the correct team balance, with the playing eleven having undergone numerous changes. Punjab's breathing room is minimal as they attempt to turn around their sagging fortunes, with the team expected to relocate to Ahmedabad after this game.

The Mumbai Indians, who have been blowing hot and cold in difficult conditions, are in the blue corner. Their middle-order batting has been disappointing, and they, too, will be leaving Chennai after this game. Mumbai will be eager to make amends and get the ball rolling in their next four games, which will all be played in Delhi, where the pitches are unlikely to get any faster.

Chris Gayle has failed in three consecutive innings for Punjab, and the middle order has struggled as well, with Nicholas Pooran registering three ducks in four games with the highest score of 9. Meanwhile, considering KL Rahul's strike rate problems resurfacing, it might not be a bad idea for the Kings captain to take his time at the crease and lead the way with sensible batting, while Shahrukh Khan's familiarity with the conditions and his promising knocks so far bodes well for the team. Punjab immediately found a method with the ball, and all they need now are a few more runs from the batsmen.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Indians' middle order would be worried about how they have done in the slow conditions. Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, and the Pandya brothers have struggled to adjust to the pitch, and Mumbai, like Punjab, suffered a collapse in the last match, limiting their bowling options. MI have a glaring problem with a run rate of 7.7 in the death overs with 7.1 balls per boundary this season, compared to a run rate of 12.43 and 3.4 balls for a boundary in IPL 2020.

Match Details
Match – Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians – 17th match
Venue – MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Time – 7:30 PM IST, 02:00 PM GMT
Where to watch live – Star Sports Network, Hotstar


Punjab Kings
KL Rahul (C & WK), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle/Dawid Malan, Deepak Hooda, Nicholas Pooran, Shahrukh Khan, Fabian Allen, Jhye Richardson, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Arshdeep Singh

Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Jayant Yadav, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

Today’s match prediction: Mumbai Indians to win the match.