IPL 7: Defending champions Mumbai Indians set to take on Kolkata Knight Riders
Abu Dhabi: The defending champions Mumbai Indians get ready to face IPL 5 winners Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game of IPL 7 in Abu Dhabi today. The first game of this season will be played at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.
KKR’s batting unit comprises of Gautam Gambhir, Kallis, Robin Uthappa, under-fire yet dangerous Yusuf Pathan. The presence of Manish Pandey and Ryan ten Doeschate offers variety and firepower to KKR batting.
MI retained Rayudu, Rohit Sharma and Pollard. These three along with ever so consistent Michael Hussey and explosive Corey Anderson add strength to MI’s batting.
With Malinga, Harbhajan and Ojha in the squad, Mumbai’s bowling attack won’t be much different from that of the last year. Zaheer Khan’s experience gives MI bowling attack a much-needed balance. Team composition permitting, MI also have the option to play Marchant de Lange, Krishmar Santokie and Josh Hazlewood.
Sunil Narine will lead KKR spin attack. KKR can also field in Piyush Chawala to accompany Narine. In the pace bowling department, KKR can choose from Umesh Yadav, R. Vinay Kumar, Morne Morkel and Pat Cummins With Kallis in the squad, he is certainly to shoulder the bowling responsibility.
Mumbai Indians have an impressive win-loss ratio of 10-2 against Kolkata Knight Riders.
The match will commence at 8 p.m. IST
Squads:
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Michael Hussey, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, Corey Anderson, Josh Hazlewood, CM Gautam, Aditya Tare, Apoorv Wankhade, Marchant de Lange, Krishmar Santokie, Ben Dunk, Pawan Suyal, Sushant Marathe, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Gopal, Jalaj Saxena.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Gautam Gambhir (c), Sunil Narine, Jacques Kallis, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Shakib Al Hasan, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar, Morne Morkel, Piyush Chawla, Manish Pandey, Veer Pratap Singh, Chris Lynn, Andre Russell, SS Mandal, Pat Cummins, Debabrata Das, Suryakumar Yadav, Manvinder Bisla, Ryan ten Doeschate, Kuldeep Yadav.
