IPL 2021: Punjab Kings Predicted Playing XI Against Mumbai Indians

Punjab Kings aren’t in the healthiest of positions in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League. In a rather congested points table, PBKS are precariously placed at fifth in the table with eight points from 10 games. Moreover, their net run rate of -0.271 is also not the best.

With Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals strengthening their grip in the top two, PBKS must be vying for the third and fourth spots. In their previous game, they beat the Sunrisers Hyderabad by five runs after positing only 125 on a tough pitch to bat on at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

However, the Punjab-based team needs to find a winning combination as they don’t have much room for complacency going forward. When PBKS and MI met last time, it was KL Rahul’s Punjab who won by nine wickets with 14 balls left in their run-chase.

Here’s the PBKS Predicted XI for the MI vs PBKS match

Openers- KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal

KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal got out cheaply in the game against SRH, but keeping in mind their past performances, they are expected to stage a comeback. Rahul has led the PBKS batting with a lot of efficiency, scoring 401 runs from nine matches at an average of 57.28 with four half-centuries.

Rahul averages in excess of 70 against MI and he also became the Player of the Match when PBKS last met Mumbai in April. Agarwal, on the other hand, hasn’t let his team down either. In nine games, the right-hander has got 332 runs at an average of 41.50 with a top score of an unbeaten 99.

Middle-order- Aiden Markram, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Deepak Hooda

PBKS roped in Chris Gayle into their playing eleven for the match against the Sunrisers and his inclusion has strengthened their lineup, though the Jamaican couldn’t deliver with the bat. Aiden Markram has lent solidity to the middle-order as he has scored 53 runs in the two matches.

Nicholas Pooran can detonate any bowling lineup on his day. After a disastrous outing in the first leg of IPL 2021, the southpaw got back his form while playing in the 2021 CPL. Deepak Hooda scored a fifty against Rajasthan Royals earlier in the tournament, but has looked indifferent since then.

All-rounder- Harpreet Brar

Harpreet Brar has been excellent for the Kings in the limited matches he has taken part in the tournament. The left-arm spinner has bowled at an economy rate of 5.71, the best among the ones, who have bowled more than 10 overs. Moreover, he also has picked up five wickets. Not to forget that he can add useful runs lower down the batting order with his power-hitting.

Bowlers- Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Shami, Nathan Ellis, Arshdeep Singh

Ravi Bishnoi strained to get into the eleven earlier in the tournament. But once he started getting opportunities, he showed his class. In five matches, the leg-spinner has picked up seven wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 6.15. The tweaker has been able to turn the screws in the middle overs.

Mohammed Shami and Arshdeep Singh have led the PBKS bowling attack pretty efficiently. Both have picked up 13 wickets each at similar economy rates in the sevens. Nathan Ellis should be high on confidence after defending quite a few runs in the last over when Holder was there batting.