IPL 2021 Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians April 23 Match Prediction

Match Predictions

Mumbai Indians have played all their games at Chepauk thus far, and will be accustomed to this wicket when they take on Punjab Kings, who played the first few games on the batting friendly wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. Mumbai, despite registering two wins in four games, have a number of woes to look into, including their lower middle order batting and the over-reliance on Jasprit Bumrah with the ball.

Though their openers have been giving them steady starts, the inability of the Pandya brothers to get going has meant that they have been unable to register more than 155 in their last three games. Batting in Chennai has not been the easiest either, and despite a loss in their previous encounter, the defending champions could go in unchanged.

Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have been let down by the strike-rate of their skipper KL Rahul while their bowling remains a worry as well. In two games, they have conceded over 190 runs, while the batters have been unable to perform as a unit. The wicket at Chennai is expected to test them, and with Mumbai already familiar to the track, Punjab will enter the game as underdogs. 

KL Rahul’s captaincy has been questionable on a lot of occasions and they could make a few changes to their XI considering they will be playing at a different venue. Punjab have a number of youngsters who will be eager to fire against a tough side, but it will be the onus of the senior cricketers to pave a solid foundation.

Overall, there is hardly anything separating the side, with Mumbai winning 14 games and Punjab Kings registering 12 victories thus far. Both teams have won a game apiece in the last two editions. In fact, other than 2018, when Mumbai won both encounters, Punjab and MI have won one game against each other since 2015.

Team Previews

Kings XI Punjab are definitely expected to make changes to their XI considering they will be playing in totally different conditions. They are unlikely to play both Jhye Richardson and Riley Meredith, and we expect the latter to be benched, with Murugan Ashwin coming into the XI. Ravi Bishnoi is a must-pick as well, and Jalaj Saxena could make way after an indifferent debut.

Mumbai Indians are not usually a team who makes many changes to their XI, and they could go in unchanged despite a loss to Delhi Capitals in their last match.

Summary

Overall, Mumbai have an advantage, but only slightly. Punjab are one of the rare teams to have consistently gotten the better of MI, and they will be eager to continue the same form and get back to winning ways, which will give them immense confidence going forward.