IPL 2021: MI vs RCB Preview – Mumbai, Bangalore clash in high-voltage opener

The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is here. It is a quick turn around for everyone as the previous season ended in November last year as it was delayed due to the outbreak of COVID-19. While the situation is more or less the same in terms of the pandemic, everyone has now learned to live in a new normal while the players have got used to the bio-bubble concept as well.

The only change is, this time the IPL is happening in India and the two current stalwarts of Indian cricket, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma will be up against each other in the opening game. MI won the title for the fifth time last season and will be keen on starting their defence well. RCB, on the other hand, made it to the playoffs in IPL 2020 for the first time since 2016. Having said that, they are on a five-match losing streak and would like to arrest it in the first game of this season itself.

Match Info

IPL 2021 Match 1 – Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore

Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.

Time: 7:30 PM IST

Head to head

Stat Attack

This will be the 1st time when MI and RCB will encounter each other in the opening match of an IPL edition.

Team batting 1st won 10 out of 17 matches at Chennai in IPL 2019.

Yuzvendra Chahal will be playing in his 100th IPL match.

Team News 

MI

The five-time champions look like a settled unit which isn’t a surprise at all. Quinton de Kock seems unlikely to play as he joined the team only after playing the second ODI against Pakistan on April 4. In his absence, Chris Lynn is expected to open the innings. Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult and Nathan Coulter-Nile should be their other three overseas players.

RCB

Daniel Sams won’t be part of the first game at least after testing positive for COVID-19 on April 7. However, Devdutt Padikkal has recovered in time and joined the team on April 7. He will open the innings with Virat Kohli. Expect RCB to include Daniel Christian in the playing XI thanks to his experience and ability to bowl in death overs and finish strongly with the bat. Kyle Jamieson and, undoubtedly, AB de Villiers should be the other overseas players in the line-up.

Probable XI