MI vs RCB has always been one of the high-profile clashes in IPL since the very first season. Mumbai and Bengaluru have incredible fan bases, who are behind the team despite the outcome and both teams have a lot of star names in them. However, the IPL 2024 season hasn’t been a great one for MI and RCB up until now. With just a win to their names so far in the campaign, both teams head to the Wankhede stadium hoping for season-defining performances.
The security guards in the lower tier of the stands at the media end of Wankhede Stadium were kept busy on Wednesday. They all had ‘ball retrievers’ added to their job description for the evening as practice sessions for MI and RCB took place.
MI vs RCB previous performances
Mumbai seem to have the momentum at the momentum with their win over Delhi. Thanks to some big-hitting from Romario Shepherd and a disciplined bowling performance from Jasprit Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee, MI got their first two points of the campaign, much to the delight of skipper Hardik Pandya. Mumbai were also able to welcome back Suryakumar Yadav into their mix, which will serve as a huge boost for the remainder of the campaign.
For RCB, the same story seems to be unfolding this time around. The bowling unit has failed to click so far while Virat Kohli seems to be wagging a lone battle at the top with the bat. The likes of Faf du Plessis, Glenn Maxwell and former MI star, Cameron Green, have all failed to be amongst the runs. This match will also have another significant moment as this will be the first clash between the two sides in almost a decade that the fans won’t see Kohli and Rohit Sharma leading their sides in the match.
MI vs RCB Head to Head
MI and RCB have faced each other 32 times in the IPL with Mumbai leading 18-14 in the head-to-head stats. Last season, both teams traded home wins in high-scoring games with the likes of Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma impressing for their sides. MI 18 – 14 RCB. RCB have dominated their Mumbai rivals since 2020, having won five of the seven contests. At the Wankhede, MI lead RCB 7-3.
MI vs RCB: Pitch report
A new surface can be expected to be used for this one. The Wankhede is known to be a high-scoring ground and one where teams have success while chasing. We can expect that trend to continue on Thursday as well. A new surface – next to the one on which the previous two games were played – is likely to be used on Thursday. It is not too far off from the middle and hence, the square boundaries should be more or less equidistant. Evenings in Mumbai have been pleasant even if the afternoons have become hot.
With small boundaries and a batting wicket, it should be a high-scoring contest. With high-profile and big hitters in both sides, one could see sixes raining down ceaselessly. With dew being a factor, captain winning the toss may choose to field.
Big picture – Spin struggles of a different kind for MI and RCB
The security guards in the lower tier of the stands at the media end of Wankhede Stadium were kept busy on Wednesday. They all had ‘ball retrievers’ added to their job description for the evening.
Faf du Plessis had two stints at the nets. Glenn Maxwell one, Cameron Green one, Mahipal Lomror, Rajat Patidar, Tom Curran, Suyash Prabhudessai all one. And the prime focus was facing hitting spin. RCB had a plethora of net bowlers bowling spin and the batters’ aim was to hit them as far as they could.
In the IPL since 2021, spinners have had an economy rate of 7.82 at the Wankhede Stadium. In the middle overs (7 to 16), they have returned 109 wickets at an economy of rate 7.76.
In IPL 2024, RCB have had a tough time against spinners in the middle overs. Their average of 50.75 for the loss of just four wickets may not be bad, but they have been the second-slowest scoring team against spin in that phase. Their strike rate of 125 is only better than KKR’s 122.68 in the middle overs. Among RCB batters who have faced at least ten balls of spin in the middle overs, only Patidar (171.42) and Virat Kohli (142.42) have a strike rate in excess of 110.
All these point towards an area of weakness waiting to be exploited. However, Mumbai have not bowled a lot of spin at the Wankhede Stadium so far this year. Piyush Chawla and Mohammad Nabi combined for four overs in their previous outing, while Chawla was the lone spinner used for three overs against Rajasthan Royals. RCB’s training methods suggested that they are bracing for a bit of spin test come match day.
So far in this IPL, Mumbai have bowled the least amount of spin – 18 overs of which Chawla has bowled 10. They have picked up just two wickets with spin and their economy rate of 11.22 is the worst among the teams this year. In case Mumbai do decide to employ more spin, they have left-arm spinner Shams Mulani and Kumar Karthikeya, who can spin it both ways, to turn to. Will Mumbai change their methods to exploit RCB’s potential problems.
MI vs RCB: Team news
MI seems to have stumbled upon their ideal Playing XI for Wankhede during the win over DC. Shepherd and Nabi coming in helped the batting order in a massive way and provided them with ideal bowling options for the Wankhede pitch as well. They maybe tempted to probably consider bringing in another spinner in the form of Shams Mulani, but the chances of them sticking to their winning combinations seems to be the likely scenario at the moment.
For RCB, the permutations and combinations are continuing at the moment. They’re yet to nail down on their preferred playing XI at the moment. They could be tempted to give Will Jacks a game at this moment and it would be a bold call if he comes in to replace the struggling Maxwell.
Mahipal Lomror, who was strangely dropped for the RR game should be back in the mix for this one. We could also see Suyash Prabhudessai make his way into the playing XI as well.
In the spotlight: Jasprit Bumrah and Cameron Green
There has been a vast difference between Jasprit Bumrah and the other Mumbai bowlers. Bumrah has an average of 19.60 and an economy rate of 6.12 while the others have averaged 35.60 and leaked runs at over 11 an over. Teams have tried to see off Bumrah and attack the others, but as he showed against Capitals, how Mumbai spread his overs through the innings decides how much they manage to limit the damage.
Cameron Green returns to the venue where he was immensely successful in IPL 2023 – 229 runs at an average of 76.33 and a strike rate of 172.18. Ahead of the season, he was traded by Mumbai to RCB, where he has been shunted up and down the batting order and is yet to have a telling impact with the bat. He had a short bowling spell on Wednesday after which he had a 20-minute batting stint in which he middled almost everything. Will he turn his IPL 2024 form around at the Wankhede Stadium
Vital Stats that matters
Kohli has been dismissed four times by Bumrah and three times by Chawla. But he strikes at over 152 against Bumrah and a shade over 130 against Chawla. Bumrah has also dismissed Maxwell five times in the IPL.
Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan are only the second opening pair to score over 1200 runs for Mumbai Indians after Rohit and Quinton de Kock. Rohit and Kishan have 12 half-century opening stands, the most for Mumbai in the IPL.
Mohammed Siraj is yet to dismiss Rohit in the IPL – 52 balls for 68 runs – while he has dismissed Kishan twice in 40 balls for 50 runs. On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav has a strike rate of 225.92 against Siraj – 61 runs off 27 balls, out once.
MI vs RCB: Predicted Playing XIs
MI Predicted Playing XI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk.), Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (capt), Tilak Varma, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah.
Impact Player: Akash Madhwal
RCB Predicted Playing XI: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (capt), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell/Will Jacks, Cameron Green, Saurav Chauhan/Suyash Prabhudessai, Dinesh Karthik (wk.), Reece Topley, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal.
Impact Player: Mahipal Lomror
Fantasy Playing XI : Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Faf Du Plessis , Suryakumar Yadav, Glenn Maxwell, Hardik Pandya, Cameron Green, Tilak Verma, Jasprit Bumrah, Dinesh Karthik (wk.), Mohammad Siraj.
MI vs RCB: Match Prediction
Expect the match to be a high-scoring affair and with the all the momentum on their side, expect MI to secure their second win of the campaign.