MI face must-win situation against KKR

Their juggernaut having come to a halt against the batting might of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mumbai Indians face a virtual make or break situation when they take on defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League cricket here on Thursday.

The loss here last Sunday to RCB, after a superb five-game winning streak, has come at the wrong time.

But MI would be seeking inspiration from their overall 10-5 win-loss record against KKR who, however, won their previous season-opening clash on April 8 by seven wickets. MI would have loved to go into the tough battle with their tails up instead of licking their wounds inflicted by the brutal assault on their bowling attack by <g data-gr-id="26">A B</g> de Villiers who smashed 133 not out off just 59 balls.

Having just 12 points in their kitty with on Thursday’s last home game at the Wankhede Stadium followed by their concluding away match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 17 in hand, MI have very little margin of error to play with.

MI need to pull up their socks and put <g data-gr-id="21">behind </g>the humiliating 39-run loss to RCB in their home bastion when they take on the formidable Knight Riders who go into the game placed second on the table. They may, however, not be entirely without a chance of making a <g data-gr-id="29">play-off</g> berth even if they lose against the Knight Riders, who are on a three-game winning roll. But then their progress would not be in their own hands.

On the other hand a victory would not only help the Kolkata franchise bounce back into the pole position currently occupied by the Chennai Super Kings, but would also make it 2 out of 2 in their clashes with MI this season. MI’s bowlers were given a hiding by de Villiers and RCB skipper Virat Kohli. With Jasprit <g data-gr-id="28">Bumrah</g> and Hardik Pandya both having conceded over 50 runs, one of them is bound to be replaced, if not both.