In a must win encounter to keep their hopes alive of making into the playoffs, defending champions Mumbai Indians will be up against rejuvenated Kings XI Punjab in their new home turf at Holkar stadium in Indore on Friday.
While this season has been a positive one for a reformed Kings XI side playing under the leadership of ace Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, Rohit Sharma's Mumbai Indians have struggled to deliver, on account of which, they are placed at the bottom of the points table with just two wins from eight games.
Defending champions Mumbai have the history of struggling during the initial phases of the IPl. They have usually gained momentum during mid season. However, this time they struggled to deliver when it matters the most.
Even though the players have managed to display patches of individual brilliance, the side has failed to perform as a unit.
Apart from opener Suryakumar yadav (283 runs from 8 games), no other batsmen has impressed with the bat consistently, which has eventually turned out to be a major cause of worry for the Mumbai side.
Rohit, who was expected to play an anchor role for the young Mumbai side has failed miserably so far. Besides his 94 against Royal Challengers Bangalore and an unbeaten fifty versus Chennai Super Kings in the only two games Mumbai have won, the Indian opener has struggled for runs.
The destructive batsman has failed to spend quality time on the crease and his contribution of 196 runs from eight games doesn't do justice to his reputation.
The star all-rounder pair of Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard, who have been integral members of the MI squad for years, have also been a big disappointment. Hardik has managed to compile just 111 runs with 11 wickets, while Pollard's contribution of 76 runs from six innings has been heartbreaking for MI supporters.
In the batting front, young Ishan Kishan and West Indian opener Evin lewis who has destructive figures in T20 Internationals has failed to reflect it in IPl.
Despite having five bowlers in top ten wicket-takers list this season, Mumbai's bowling attack has failed to click as a unit, resulting in the team losing five matches in the last over.
Except Jasprit Bumrah (8 wickets with an economy of 7) and season's find Mayank Markande (11 wickets) everyone else have struggled to stop the run flow. In the last game against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Mitchell McClenghan got smashed for 24 runs in the last over which later proved to be decisive.
On the other hand, Kings XI Punjab's brilliant run so far has been about collective performance.
With the presence of 'Universe Boss' Chris Gayle, who has managed to maintain his reputation in T20 circuit with a century and two fifties in four games, Punjab are looking like a threatening unit.
His opening partner Kl Rahul is playing the complimentary role and has been supporting the West Indian impressively so far.
Gayle has managed to build 252 runs from four innings, while Rahul has 268 runs from seven games in his bag with a healthy strike rate of 170.70.
Apart from these two, in-form Mayank Agarwal and Karun Nair are doing well, but the batting form of experienced players such as Yuvraj Singh and Aaron finch has been a major cause of concern. Yuvraj has managed to score just 50 runs from four games, while Finch has 24 in five innings.
In the bowling front, Afghanistan teen sensation Mujeeb ur Rahman has been quite impressive. Apart from taking wickets, the 17-year old has been pretty economical in terms of restricting runs and suffocating batsmen's options.
Skipper Ravichandran Ashwin, Andrew Tye and Ankit Rajpoot, who clinched five wickets against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the last game, have also done their part well.
On Friday, it'll be a must win game for Mumbai Indians to keep their hopes alive of making into the top four, KXIP would be keen to return back to winning ways after a losing to Sunrisers in the last game when the side failed to chase 132 runs.