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MI vs RR Preview: The context

Welcome to our MI vs RR preview!

Needing a win desperately, the Rajasthan Royals would have taken almost any other opposition gleefully but Mumbai. The momentum for the two teams, considering their respective last 2 games, could not have been more contrasting.

Also, Read – IPL 2020 Preview: MI, SRH, RR, RCB

While MI have won 2 on the trot, the royals look uncomfortable outside of Sharjah losing both their games without giving a lot of problems to the opposition.

Royal muddle

The Royals have issues in their middle order, after the number three spot, which comprises of Robbie Uthappa and Riyan Parag. Without any significant contributions from the two in middle order the pressure is always immense on the lower order and top three to come good. Uthappa, despite all his experience in the league, has failed horribly in the middle scoring only 33 from 4 innings so far.

Rajasthan Royals batsman Ben Stokes during the practice session ahead the Indian Premier league IPL 2019 match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Jaipur,Rajasthan,India on Thursday, April 04,2019.(Photo By Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Addition of Ben Stokes to the playing eleven is bound to improve the balance but he remains in one week of compulsory quarantine that has been put in place.

Also, Read- The top 5 best English Cricketers at IPL 2020

There’s also some need for improvement for the pace attack which doesn’t seems to be contributing much except the Englishman Jofra Archer. Despite Archer’s more than decent form with the ball, RR haven’t been able to churn out results in powerplay in their favour picking up just 2 wickets until now.

Firing on all cylinders

Rajasthan Royals player Steve Smith during the practice session ahead the IPL match against Kings XI Punjab at Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur , Rajasthan, India , March 24,2019. (Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, have every single member of the team contributing for them in some form or the other. Their only out of form player, Quinton de Kock, also found the much needed confidence against Sunrisers Hyderabad scoring a dazzling 67. Expect them to field the same 11 which has given them the last two wins.

MI vs RR Preview IPL T20

Will Smith shuffle the batting order to accommodate the left handed rookie Yashasvi Jaiswal at the expense of Uthappa or he will stick with the same bunch of players and go the CSK way hoping they will deliver? We shall see.

Head to head: Tied at 10 each

Last 5 meetings: 1-4 in favour of Royals

MI vs RR Preview: Possible XI’s

MI vs RR Preview. Quinton De Kock has been in good form vs SRH. — CHENNAI, INDIA – MAY 07: Quinton de Kock of the Mumbai Indians bats during the India Premier League IPL Qualifier Final match between the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings at M.A.Chidambaram Stadium on May 07, 2019 in Chennai, India. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Mumbai Indians: Quinton de Kock (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, James Pattinson, Trent Boult, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah

Rajasthan Royals: Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Smith (c), Sanju Samson, Robin Uthappa, Rahul Tewatia, Mahipal Lomror, Riyan Parag/Ankit Rajpoot, Tom Curran, Jofra Archer, Shreyas Gopal, Jaydev Unadkat

Prediction

Unless it’s Jos Butler’s or Samson’s excellent day out, this is a very tough game for the royals to look for gaining any momentum. They will however take confidence from their head to head record and the fact that they haven’t been beaten by the defending champions in the last two seasons.

Expect MI to have the answer to every question RR throws at them and come out victorious.

We hope you enjoyed our MI vs RR preview.

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