MI vs RCB Today Match Prediction, Match 1: IPL 2021
After two long years, the IPL fever is back in India with it’s 14th edition featuring defending champions Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore in first encounter.
The first match of this IPL 2021 is played at MA Chidambaram stadium in Chennai on April 9th.
IPL Match 1 – MI VS RCB – Live Cricket Score, Scorecard, Live Commentary
In this first match, both the teams will be looking for a flying start after their successful journey in last year IPL. Due to COVID conditions, no team will be playing their league stage matches at their home ground and it will be very interesting to see how these teams will fare and adapt in different conditions.
Defending champions Mumbai Indians are out to capture their sixth title as they try to make it as hattrick title in three years. Skipper Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians are arguably the best team in this IPL owing to their strong batting line up and all-rounders. It will be a very hard task for every team to beat this team in this IPL. MI consists of a strong batting unit with duo Ishan kishan and Surya Kumar Yadav in opening positions. Their batting order looks very strong with world class players like Rohit Sharma, De Cock, Hardik, Chris Lynn etc. With the likes of Justin Bumrah and Trent Boult, their bowling unit may give some breakthrough in regular intervals.
Coming to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), they have made it to playoffs in last edition of IPL after three years. There are some exciting players in RCB who will be featuring in the first match like Virat Kohli, ABD, Glenn Maxwell and Kyle Jamieson etc. After inclusion of Glenn Maxwell, RCB batting unit looks quite stronger when compared to last seasons.
In head to head contests, Mumbai Indians are far better than RCB. Mumbai have won 19 games while RCB came victorious in 10 games. Defending champions MI will definitely start as favourites but RCB has the ability to upset the MI as they have known for upsets in big contests.
IPL 2021: MI vs RCB Match Details:
Date: 9th April 2021 (Friday).
Time: 7:30 PM IST.
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
Head – Head:
Total: 29
MI won : 19
RCB won: 10
Weather Forecast:
The weather is quite warm and humid here in Chennai. The dew factor may play some crucial role in this match. The captain winning the toss might look to chase the target as it finds very difficult for bowlers to find the grip. An average temperature will be 28 – 30 degree celsius.
Pitch Report:
MCA stadium is known for spinners pitch. Already we have seen in India vs England tests where the pitch assisted spinners in getting wickets. So it might continue in this match. A total of 160 plus would be very great for any team to defend on this wicket
Predicted XIs:
Mumbai Indians
Chris Lynn might get picked for opening slot in place of De Cock as he is not available for this match.
Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult and Coulter-Nile will be the other three overseas picks for MI. Hardik, Krunal will be strengthen the middle order where they could bowl few overs well.
Mumbai Indians: Chris Lynn, Rohit Sharma (C), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (WK), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
Virat Kohli is likely to open as he is already mentioned before. So he will open with Devdutt Padikkal for RCB. MAxwell and ABD are other two players who could assist middle order. Debutant Mohammed Azharudeen will likely gets a chance in playing eleven as he might keeps the stupmps for RCB. Sundar and Chahal could be spin options for RCB.
Meanwhile newly picked RCB players Daniel Christian and Jamieson could be the two forign picks. Siraj and Saini will be the pace bowling options for RCB in this match.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Devdutt Padikkal, Virat Kohli (C), AB De Villiers, Mohammed Azharuddeen (WK), Glenn Maxwell, Dan Christian, Washington Sundar, Kyle Jamieson, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini and Yuzvendra Chahal.
Batting Report:
Batting unit is the biggest asset for Mumbai Indians this season. Already young players like Ishan kishan and Suryakumar Yadav have made their debuts in national team owing to their performance in IPL. Rohit Sharma and Decock is the biggest asset for MI from past few seasons. Even their reserve bench looks quite solid in the form of Chris Lynn. Coming to RCB, with the inclusion of Maxwell, their batting order looks fantastic when compared to last season. Devdutt Padikkal looks super strong in batting as he was the highest run getter in Vijay – Hazare trophy this year. He might continue his form in this saeason also. Captain Kohli regained his form in his last matches against England with back top back fifties. With the likes of ABD and Sundar, RCB may give tough fight to MI bowlers in this match.
Bowling Report:
Mumbai Indians have world class pacers in their squad in the form of Trent Boult and Bumrah. The world no.1 and no.2 bowlers may rattle any batting unit on their day. All-rounders were their biggest strength who may bowl few overs and get some quick extra wickets. But MI spin attack was very weak when compared to RCB. Meanwhile RCB’s spin attack was one of the best in IPL. Sundar and Chahal were far better than any spinners when we compare their stats against any team. With the inclusion of Kyle Jamieson, RCB’s pace attack became very strong like never before with the likes of Saini and Siraj.
IPL 2021: MI vs RCB Match Prediction:
Compared to MI, the Virat Kohli led RCB looks quite unsettled as the newly picked players should get some time to cope in dressing room. Moreover some of their players have no experience playing in subcontinent conditions. While RCB’s spin attack is far better than MI, the defending champions have consistant batting unit which may rattle RCB’s bowling unit. So considering all the stats and experience we are going with Mumbai Indians to win this match.
Prediction: Mumbai Indians to win.