Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians are ready to face each other in Math 46 of IPL 2023. The cricket match will be played in the IS Bindra Stadium, Mohali. Both teams are currently side-by-side on the points table, securing the 6th (PBKS) and the 7th (MI) spot. When it comes to team play, both MI and PBKS have been struggling to perform consistently in IPL 2023.
Similarly, both teams lack star performers in batting and bowling. The only saving grace for PBKS has been Arshdeep Singh, who is contending for the Purple Cap with 15 wickets. Conversely, MI has no player contending for either the Orange or Purple Cap.
If previous encounters provide any indication, the cricket match is expected to be equal-fought. MI and PBKS have encountered 30 teams each, and both have won 15 games each.With the contention of IPL playoffs in question, the match at Mohali will be crucial for both squads.
Who will win between MI vs. PBKS in IPL 2023?
LSG recently battered the PBKS squad for a whopping 257 in their latest match on this very ground. In reply, PBKS also crossed the 200-run mark despite getting all-out in the chase.
If the rain pours, the team batting second can get an edge. Seeing how Mohali has been a batting-friendly pitch, fans can again expect a high-scoring match. However, looking at the weather report, it can be noticed that the match might face some disruption due to rain. This puts the DLS (Duckworth–Lewis–Stern) method as a possible factor in the match.
Fans are expecting a close match between MI and PBKS, which is a likely possibility. However, the inclusion of names like Cameron Green, Shikhar Dhawan, and Suryakuma Yadav can overturn the match in no time.
If Rohit Sharma finds the rhythm in this game, the player can post a huge score with the help of Green and Suryakumar. Against a struggling PBKS batting lineup, even the weakened MI bowling can secure a comfortable win.
On the other hand, if Shikhar Dhawan manages to stay on the crease for 8+ overs, the match will be a close one.
Can PBKS and MI still qualify for IPL 2023 playoffs?
TATA IPL 2023 has probably been the closest competition ever since the event’s inception. Picture this, the 2nd-ranked team (RR) has the same points as the 6th-ranked team (PBKS).
Five teams in the competition are stuck at 10 points in their 9 games. In fact, the table leader is only one win ahead of the pack with 12 points and 6 wins. With only 4 teams qualifying for the playoffs, most of the teams still have their chances alive.
Based on previous IPL stats, each team needs to win at least 8 games to qualify for the playoffs. MI has registered 4 wins while PBKS has secured 5 wins till now, so it might come to a fight for NRR in the end.
If MI loses the game, they will have to win all 4 of their remaining games. On the other hand, PBKS has to win 3 out of their remaining 5 games. Thus, a win in Mohali can very well dictate the teams’ future in IPL 2023.
MI winning the game will help the team secure 5 out of their 8 wins. Similarly, a win at Mohali will take PBKS one step closer to playoffs qualification. At the same time, the match’s result will disrupt the entire table as the winner will topple most of the existing ranks.
MI vs. PBKS: Head-to-head, players’ form, and more
Both MI and PBKS are struggling with similar issues, inconsistent batting lineups, and subpar bowling. The entire MI batting attack ranges between 158 to 248 runs in IPL 2023. PBKS has it worse as the team’s batting attack has scored between 128 to 262 runs. The teams previously met in Match 31, where PBKS registered a 13-run victory.
The match was also a batting contest where both teams crossed 200 runs. With Mohali being PBKS’ home ground, the team will have a slight advantage. However, it all depends on MI’s bowling attack.
The loss of Malinga, Hardik, Bumrah, Harbhajan, etc., has weakened the MI bowling attack. However, the PBKS’ batting lineup has not been firing either. Since MI has a star-studded batting attack, the match will ultimately boil down to MI bowlers vs. PBKS batsmen.
Cameron Green and Suryakumar Yadav are undoubtedly the aces in the MI batting squad. However, Tim David’s explosive batting in final overs also makes him a top fantasy pick on the best cricket betting sites. On the other hand, its bowling has been led by Piyush Chawla’s spin.
As for PBKS, the team will be happy to see Shikhar Dhawan opening the innings for them. Aside from Shikhar, who has scored 262 runs, Sam Curran (192) will also be a key player for PBKS.
Similarly, Livingstone, as a finisher, also looks in great form, having scored a quick 40 off 24 against CSK. Fans should definitely keep an eye on the players throughout the game.
Conclusion
PBKS vs. MI can be a major game-changer for every team in IPL 2023. Since 5 teams have 10 points in the competition, the winner of Match 46 can even top the table.
PBKS will enter the game with confidence since they recently chased down 201 against CSK. Also, the team will be playing in its home ground, Mohali. Similarly, MI also chased down 213 against RR with 6 wickets remaining recently. Therefore, the teams will look to secure a massive score against each other. All eyes will be on Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan to get their teams off to a strong start. However, a loss here can very well spell an end to the losing team’s playoff qualification chances.
