IPL 2018: Match 14, Player Battles – AB de Villiers vs Krunal Pandya

The top limited-overs batsmen Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers and Rohit Sharma will be in the action during the crucial game between the Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. The game to be played in Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium could witness the ball flying over the ropes as the venue is known for batting surfaces an short boundaries. In the previous game at this venue, the Delhi Daredevils chased down a mountain of 195 with seven wickets to spare.

Royal Challengers Bangalore, banking on an inconsistent bowling line-up, will face off against the home team filled up with some big hitting young batsmen. Though MI are yet to open their account, they have a history of coming back from poorest of starts. At the same time, RCB has not defeated MI since 2015 losing their last for meetings. The visitors will have to rely on their batting strength to break the Mumbai Indians jinx that too at Wankhede.

However, MI bowlers have managed to keep Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in check after their massacre at the Wankhede in 2015. AB de Villiers interestingly found out against Krunal Pandya trying to clear him. The left-arm spinner managed to deceive the South African four times in four innings. De Villiers scored 33 runs in 32 balls against Krunal in the last two IPL seasons hitting only three boundaries. AB de Villiers will also have to face Jasprit Bumrah in this game against whom he struggled in the recent home series.

AB de Villiers vs Krunal Pandya:

Virat Kohli, on the other hand, got out to Mitchell McClenaghan on four occasions averaging 4.75 in the IPL. However, the Kiwi pacer is not in finest of forms and got dropped after the season opener. With MI struggling to pick a 2nd overseas bowling option, bringing in Mitch won’t be a bad choice given his record against RCB skipper. Bumrah has been on the receiving end after dismissing Virat Kohli on his IPL debut. The Indian captain in all formats scored 71 off 45 balls against Bumrah in the IPL so far.

(Stats as on April 16, 2018)