The Indian Premier League (IPL) is all set to hit a major milestone as it gears up for its 1000th match. As we approach the exciting milestone, let’s take a look at the upcoming clash between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians. The match will take place at the Wankhede Stadium, a pitch known to favor the batters and tall pacers.
Rajasthan Royals, the underdogs who won the inaugural season of IPL in 2008, are looking unstoppable in 2023, currently sitting in second place on the points table with five wins from eight matches. Their batting lineup is on fire, consisting of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, Devdutt Padikkal, Shimron Hetmeyer, and the young Dhruv Jurel, who has been their find of the season. Their bowling attack, spearheaded by R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal, with Trent Boult’s seam and swing, is equally effective, making them a complete team.
On the other hand, the Mumbai Indians are struggling this season. Their bowling attack has been weak, which has been exposed in several games. Jasprit Bumrah’s absence and Jofra Archer’s uncertain availability have made matters worse. The batting lineup has also not been firing, with skipper Rohit Sharma out of form. However, the team is standing behind him, and the coach, Boucher, has said that if Rohit wants to rest, they will consider it.
As for the weather forecast, it is expected to be a clear day with no chance of rain, and the temperature is expected to hover around 30°C. The Wankhede Stadium’s bouncy pitch will make the tall pacers crucial, and MI’s leg-spinner Piyush Chawla could be a point to ponder.
Probable XI for both teams are as follows:
MI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Anmolpreet Singh, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Piyush Chawla, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Arjun Tendulkar, and Jofra Archer.
RR: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler, Devdutt Padikkal, Sanju Samson, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Dhruv Jurel, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Sandeep Sharma, Trent Boult.
In conclusion, the upcoming match between Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals is expected to be a closely contested match. Based on current form and past performance, Mumbai Indians are slightly favored to win with a probability of 55%, while Rajasthan Royals have a chance of winning with a probability of 45%.
