The Indian Premier League (IPL) is one of the most dynamic and entertaining leagues in cricket. One of its key features is the auctioning off of players at a fixed price to all franchises, which has led to some intriguing trades over the years. Today we take a look at how two such trades have shaped up so far this season, with an eye on what’s next for both sides.
In the last league match of the 2014 IPL season, the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals rekindled their rivalry. When MI required a boundary, Faulkner gave Aditya Tare a six. In T20 cricket history, a record run chase. Following that match in 2014, RR faced MI ten times, winning six of them. These two titans will face off tonight in an attempt to boost their respective table places.
Mumbai’s supporters were ecstatic after they lost their first match! If MI wins their first match of the IPL season, fans will be disappointed. Losing the first match is a positive omen for MI. They may be sluggish to get going, but when the time comes, they outperform the competition. Rajasthan, on the other side, had a hot start to the season, but then the losing trend continues! However, the age-old rivalry between MI and RR is one to keep an eye on.
This match pits Mahela Jayawardene against Kumar Sangakara and Lasith Malinga. Shimron Hetmyer vs. Kieron Pollard Trent Boult vs. Jasprit Bumrah Sanju Samson vs. Rohit Sharma Murugan Ashwin against Ravi Ashwin A battle royale to determine which squad is the only legitimate team in West India!
At DY Patil Stadium, the following events will take place:
| Matches | Won | Lost | |
| MI | 7 | 5 | 2 |
| RR | 2 | 1 | 1 |
At Brabourne Stadium, MI will face RR in a single match. MI won 1 and RR lost 0.
Stats for Head-to-Head battles:
| Winning Batting 1st | Winning Batting Second | |
| MI | 8 | 2 |
| RR | 6 | 10 |
Stats for Head-to-Head battles:
| M | I | R | 100s | 50s | 30s | Avg. | SR | |
| S Samson | 16 | 16 | 530 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 35.33 | 145.21 |
| R Sharma | 20 | 19 | 393 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 20.68 | 128.01 |
| K Pollard | 21 | 18 | 373 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 24.87 | 140.23 |
| S Yadav | 8 | 8 | 308 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 44.00 | 145.28 |
| J Buttler | 6 | 5 | 300 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 75.00 | 166.67 |
| I Kishan | 6 | 6 | 162 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 32.40 | 137.29 |
| Padikkal, D | 3 | 3 | 128 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 42.67 | 143.82 |
| R Parag | 3 | 2 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 51.00 | 141.67 |
| S Hetmyer | 5 | 5 | 50 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.50 | 121.95 |
| Y Jaiswal | 3 | 3 | 44 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14.67 | 141.94 |
| M | I | W | ER | |
| R Ashwin | 32 | 32 | 24 | 6.97 |
| Y Chahal | 15 | 15 | 22 | 8.03 |
| K Pollard | 21 | 14 | 15 | 9.23 |
| J Bumrah | 10 | 10 | 14 | 6.47 |
| T Boult | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8.59 |
| P Krishna | 6 | 6 | 5 | 10.33 |
| Coulter-Nile, N | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7.36 |
| J Unadkat | 5 | 5 | 4 | 8.80 |
| M Ashwin | 4 | 4 | 3 | 9.33 |
| B Thampi | 1 | 1 | 1 | 13.00 |
| M Markande is a fictional character. | 3 | 3 | 0 | 10.14 |
Information about the venue:
(T20 stats in general)
| M | I | R | 100s | 50s | 30s | Avg. | SR | |
| K Pollard | 4 | 4 | 89 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 29.67 | 181.63 |
| R Sharma | 6 | 5 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14.40 | 104.35 |
| M | I | W | ER | |
| K Pollard | 4 | 4 | 6 | 8.43 |
11 players who are most likely to play:
Suryakumar Yadav is healthy and eager to play. Aside from that, no additional changes to the MI team are likely.
R Sharma, I Kishan, S Yadav, T Varma, T David, K Pollard, D Sams, T Mills, J Bumrah, M Ashwin, B Thampi. MI: R Sharma, I Kishan, S Yadav, T Varma, T David, K Pollard, D Sams, T Mills, J Bumrah, M Ashwin, B Thampi. J Archer is now unavailable.
In the final game against SRH, Colter-Nile fell in his bowling and had to leave the field. Jimmy Neesham can take his place if he is unable to play. In the RR squad, no more changes are likely.
RR: Y Jaiswal, J Buttler, Padikkal, D, S Samson, S Hetmyer, R Parag, Coulter-Nile, N/J Neesham, R Ashwin, T Boult, Y Chahal, P Krishna
Fantasy Predictions:
WK – I Kishan, S Samson, J Buttler Batters – S Yadav, Padikkal, D, T David AR – K Pollard Bowlers – J Bumrah, T Boult, Y Chahal, R Ashwin, Coulter-Nile, N
T Varma, R Ashwin, and T David are the punt selections.
S Samson, J Buttler, and I Kishan are common C/VC players.
Punt C/VC – J Bumrahm Padikkal, D, K Pollard, Coulter-Nile, N
Battles between players:
S Samson: 2W against. Bumrah; 1W vs. Pollard
vs Boult – 4W against Chahal – 1W vs R Ashwin – 2W vs Krishna – 1W vs N C-Nile – 3W R Sharma: vs Boult – 4W vs Chahal – 1W vs R Ashwin – 2W vs Krishna – 1W vs N C-Nile – 3W
S Yadav: 1W vs Boult vs Chahal vs Krishna vs N C-Nile vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna vs Krishna v
against Boult – 1W vs Chahal – 5W vs R Ashwin – 5W vs N C-Nile – 1W K Pollard: vs Boult – 1W vs Chahal – 5W vs R Ashwin – 5W vs N C-Nile – 1W
versus Bumrah – 3W vs Sams – 1W J Buttler
I Kishan: 1W vs. Boult, 1W vs. Chahal
Padikkal, D: vs Bumrah – 2
versus Bumrah – 2 vs M Ashwin – 1W S Hetmyer
Recordings of Interest:
- So far in T20 cricket, Trent Boult has removed Rohit Sharma four times.
- K Pollard was removed five times by R Ashwin and Y Chahal, respectively.
- This is Samson’s 200th T20 match.
