Kolkata, April 28: Mumbai Indians will look to seal a playoff berth when they face an out-of-sorts Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL 2019 at the Eden Gardens here on Sunday (April 28). Skipper Rohit Sharma roared back to form with his first half-century of this IPL as Mumbai Indians crushed MS Dhoni-less Chennai Super Kings by 46 runs on Friday.
IPL SPECIAL PAGE | KKR vs MI Preview
One win away from assuring their last-four berth, the Mumbai Indians will look forward to take on their 'bunny' Kolkata Knight Riders - against whom they have an eight-match winning streak in an 18-5 head-to-head record. The last time KKR had won against MI was four years ago.
With three matches left in the league stage, the two teams clash for the first time this season, with the return leg slated for May 5 in Mumbai. KKR are in the midst of a six-match losing streak and seemed to have lost the plot completely. Karthik led from the front with a career-best 97 not out to set a challenging 176 target for Rajasthan Royals in the last match as they looked to snap their losing streak but their pacers came a cropper and the visitors secured a thrilling three-wicket win.
Starting at elimination, KKR would hope for their batting and bowling to click as a unit with just three matches to go. At the moment nothing is going in favour of the Shah Rukh Khan-owned franchise, something that reminds of their disastrous show in 2009 when the team had lost nine in a row, in a 10-match winless run.
This will be KKR's last home match of the season and the team will look to win it for the fans who have come in huge numbers and packed the stadium in every match. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, will look at captain Rohit to give them a flying start.
Here’s MyKhel’s Live Updates of the Kolkata Knight Riders vs Mumbai Indians match:
And its a wrap!
💜💜💜💜💜
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 28, 2019
The jinx has been broken, our #Knights win a thriller against Mumbai Indians. 👏🤩😎#KKRvMI #VIVOIPL #IPL #KKRHaiTaiyaar pic.twitter.com/3V4fO4gf96
It's been an exciting match to watch with the meteor of boundaries here at the Eden Gardens. KKR finally lost their losing streak against MI. The players take a bow and a lap around the stadium as this was their last home game of the season. King Khan also joins his boys as they thank their supporters.
And its over! KKR dominate the show as they beat Mumbai Indians by 34 runs at home.
WICKET! Chawla picks up a wicket
Piush Chawla starts the last over with a dot.
BIG WICKET!
THAT'S THE BIG FISH!
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 28, 2019
Hardik's whirlwind innings of 91 ends after Russell catches him at long-on!#KKRvMI #VIVOIPL #IPL #KKRHaiTaiyaar pic.twitter.com/dImpWopKng
WICKET!!! Hardik Pandya goes for 91 off 34. KKR remove the danger man. Gurney picks up an important wicket.
MAXIMUM!!! Pandya taking the game away here. KKR need a wicket here.
Mumbai need 58 off 16.
The Pandya brothers bring up their partnership of 53 off 22.
MAXIMUM! Hardik Pandya follows up the four with a huge six off Narine. Pandya keeps Mumbai in the hunt.
Sunil Narine comes in for the last over. Goes for four on the first delivery.
Mumbai Indians need 73 off 24.
DROPPED! DK and Robin Uthappa collide as they drop a sitter and hands Krunal Pandya a lifeline.
Krunal Pandya begins his innings with a MAXIMUM!
Fastest fifty
SIXXXXX!!!!
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 28, 2019
This is the fastest fifty in #IPL2019 and joint-fastest for an #MI player. Take a bow!!!!#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #KKRvMI pic.twitter.com/oJMd8M9yjA
Pandya's in great form.
As breathtaking as @hardikpandya7’s 6-hitting is the 360 angle range of his strokeplay
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 28, 2019
WICKET!! Sunil Narine strikes again. Pollard caught at deep square leg by Rana.
FOUR!!
🚁 Hardikcopter has landed in Kolkata!#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #KKRvMI
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 28, 2019
MAXIMUM!! Hardik Pandya slaying it here
Chawla hammered here as he gives away 16 off the over.
Pollard and Hardik steady Mumbai's innings building a partnership of 42 off 19
MAXIMUM!
SIXXXXXX!!!
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 28, 2019
Hardik's picking his deliveries and getting the result!#OneFamily #CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #KKRvMI pic.twitter.com/E1mkKyzU4k
Russell power
Russell can’t put a foot wrong this season. He’s ravaged bowlers this season with amazing power and consistency. The World Cup’s a different format, of course, but his IPL form carries stiff warning to opposing bowlers already
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 28, 2019
MAXIMUM! And Hardik Pandya continues his smashing form with another maximum of Narine
Narine to Pollard: FOUR: flicked to deep square's left.
MAXIMUM!! Hardik Pandya thrashing Chawla here, sends it into the crowd
Piyush Chawla in. Hardik Pandya hit Chawla for a maximum.
Russell strikes again!! Brilliant bowling from Russell as Suryakumar Yadav is caught by Dinesh Karthik. Mumbai four wickets down.
MAXIMUM! Suryakumar Yadav holds down the fort for the visitors.