MI vs RCB Highlights, IPL 2024: Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan lay carnage as MI beat RCB by seven wickets

Mohammed Siraj to Tilak Varma. On the pace back of a length delivery, Varma meets it with a pull shot that runs down the vacant deep mid wicket boundary for four. This has been an all-out assault from MI, who've not only confirmed two points from the night but also a much needed boost to the NRR. 188/3 after 15 overs.

Venkata Krishna B: When Ishan Kishan perished in the ninth over after making 69, RCB were looking for some respite. But in walked Suryakumar Yadav, the Impact sub for MI. After missing the initial round of matches with injury and failing to get off the mark on his return against Delhi Capitals, Suryakumar finally announced his arrival at this edition's IPL. As has been the case throughout his career, he managed to find boundaries early in his innings and from there on he was simply unstoppable. Mr 360 degree once again showed his range. Those usual scoops behind the wicket came to the forefront again as RCB's attack failed to offer any challenge, quickly accepting their fate.

Hardik Pandya picks a slower one from Vyshak and clears his front leg to muscle one over long on for six. In search of another boundary, Suryakumar Yadav edges one to Mahipal Lomror at deep point. There's a check for a possible no-ball and the UltraEdge, Surya is on his way back before the third-umpire has made his mind. 

Mumbai though, as they haven't all night, don't flinch. Tilak Varma goes for a pull shot straight up, gets an inside edge and it runs past the keeper for four. 181/3 after 14 overs.

This is what the IPL was missing! A Suryakumar Yadav special, and we've got one today. 

Reece Topley is the latest to be taken apart, three fours and a six from his over. SKY gets to his first fifty of the season - off just 17 deliveries. He's been at his best, pickpocketing gaps or clearing fences behind square on both sides. MI are 169/2 after 13 overs. The required rate has come down to just a little over three.

Devendra Pandey: Wankhede Stadium saw mix of emotions as Mumbai Indians captain walked in to bat. The crowed booed him as he took on his guard and it looked that another round of booing is about to follow before the crowd suddenly decided to change its tone. The 33,000/- crowd screamed Hardik-Hardik’s name and the MI captain welcomed the noise with a six at long on. It was moment of a boo and a praise in span of few minutes.

First Ishan Kishan, now Suryakumar Yadav. Rohit Sharma has seen fireworks from the other end and decides to up the ante himself. First delivery from Will Jacks in the 12th over is short and Rohit goes deep in his crease to hammer a pull down backward square leg for four. Next ball: Jacks goes full and Rohit goes for a sweep but REECE TOPLEY TAKES A ONE-HANDED STUNNER! MI lose a second wicket!

But the boundaries continue to come. Hardik Pandya is the new man in. And the MI skipper gets off the mark with a six off the first ball. Cuts another down deep backward point for four. 150 up for MI, IN THE 12TH OVER!

Vyshak into his second over. The broadcasters display a scorecard from a meeting between these two sides last year, when 200 were chased by the Mumbai Indians - inside 16.3 overs. Suryakumar Yadav was at his best on that night as he scored 83. MI's batting clearly missed him but his comeback from an injury against the Delhi Capitals in the last game was short lived as the flamboyant batter was sent back for a duck. 

Here he is though, off to a flying start. 29 from his first 10 deliveries. Two fours, three sixes. The pick up shot is back. Length ball outside off, picked over deep square leg for SIX! Akash Deep has been mauled for 24 runs. After 11, MI are 135/1.

Akash Deep is brought back into the attack. RCB's plans have gone down the bin at this point. A low full toss - just another poorly executed delivery - and Kishan whoops it wide of long on for SIX! 100 partnership up.

But RCB finally get a breakthrough. A slower one does the trick as Kishan hurries into a flat batted shot and is holed at long off by Virat Kohli. Suryakumar Yadav is the new man in, brought in as the Impact Player instead of Akash Madhwal.

The boundaries keep on coming. Will Jacks is the latest to have been handed the ball. A sixth bowler used in eight overs. The 23-year-old IPL debutant goes length but Kishan steps out of crease and powers one down the ground for four. 92/0 after eight overs.

Vijaykumar Vyshak found his way back into the side and has been brought into the attack at a crucial juncture in the game. It's now or never for RCB. They need to salvage a wicket or two before MI run away with this. Rohit Sharma piles onto their misery. A slower full toss is deposited over deep mid wicket fence for six before an outside edge races past the keeper for four. 84/0 after seven overs. 

Venkata Krishna B: On a night where Jasprit Bumrah made you drop jaws, his India new ball partner Mohammed Siraj came up with another below par performance. With every passing outing at this IPL, Siraj is bowling his way out of T20 World Cup contention. Given Mumbai's batting depth, RCB needed early wickets from Siraj, but once again his limitations in the format -- the length he bowls, came to haunt him as Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma tore him apart in the powerplay. His economy rate in the powerplay stands at 12.30 this season.

Glenn Maxwell handeed the ball for the first time this evening. Kishan though, continues to tear into the RCB bowling attack. Two fours and a six, a total of 17 runs from the over, and the southpaw gets to his half-century off just 23 deliveries. This has been spectacular hitting from the southpaw. MI have done the heavy lifting with the field restrictions on. 72 runs accumulated in the powerplay, without the loss of a wicket.

Heaven almighty, when he goes after the bowlers like this, there aren't many who can match the furore of Ishan Kishan with the bat. 6,4,6 off the first three deliveries and Mohammed Siraj has been taken to the cleaners here. That last six has Rohit Sharma curl his lips in approval. Fast hands to latch onto a length ball outside off, creamed flat in front of square. Equally satisfying is Rohit's nonchalant flick from the pads over the mid wicket fence. 23 runs from the over. Fifty up for MI!

Akash Deep replaces Siraj. Rohit Sharma has been uncharacteristically calm so far. It's against one of the latest Indian Test debutants that the national team skipper has his first go. Short ball and one doesn't need telepathy to read what's coming. A pull, but this one wasn't connected clean. A top edge that sails over fine leg fence for six. 32/0 after four overs.

Ishan Kishan is the one who's taken the initiative for MI. The southpaw rips into Reece Topley with three consecutive boundaries in his third over. First up, a slice drive to beat the fielder at deep backward point. Kishan takes his chances off the next one - full and swinging away from the left-hander - catches a thick edge that flies past Glenn Maxwell at slips for four. And lastly, an on-drive that beats the fielder at mid-on to his left. 23/0 after three overs.

Mohammed Siraj to Ishan Kishan, full and on the pads, and the southpaw brandishes a flick over deep square leg for six. First boundary of the innings for MI. 9/0 after two overs.

Reece Topley with new ball gets us underway. Just as we saw the other night, the left-arm seamer's advantage in the first over forces a right-handed Indian opener to take the non-striker's end. It was Shubman Gill who favored Sai Sudharsan over himself against Trent Boult the other night. It's Rohit Sharma tonight, who lets Ishan Kishan take guard against Topley. Just the two runs off the first over.

Vinayakk Mohanarangan: In his interview on R Ashwin's YouTube channel, Dinesh Karthik shared many fascinating insights. One of those was the regrets he had from his playing career. "If you had to actually ask me one of my regrets in my cricketing career in respect to IPL, it was the fact that I did not want to get retained in 2013," he said. The other one was never getting the chance to play for Chennai Super Kings ('but that I understand,' he'd add). 

And on what is likely to be his last appearance at the Wankhede Stadium, DK played a blinder to rescue RCB's batting against Mumbai Indians. Coming into bat slightly earlier than we are used to seeing him in RCB's colours, DK took his time to settle in. At one stage, he was on 6 off 9 balls. Then came an over where he played in the V against Akash Madhwal... only this V was behind the wicket, for four fours. Despite RCB losing wickets in a bunch, he powered his side to a decent total with a brilliant 23-ball 53. A knock to be proud of at his former home.

Akash Madhwal to Akash Deep. A single taken and now Dinesh Karthik is on strike. RCB would want him to stay for the entirety of the next five balls. There's a review of a possible no-ball but it's been turned down in favor of MI. Virat Kohli seems perplexed with the call by the boundary. Madhwal continues. Another wide conceded, he's strayed too far down the off side off Karthik to concede one too many extras. Goes down the same territory and Karthik slices this over deep backward point for six. The plan has clearly not worked for Madhwal and MI, and it's become all too obvious for DK. Out comes a short ball, and Karthik nails it over deep square leg for another SIX! The next one pierced through the covers for four. They needed him to fire on all cylinders and he hasn't disappointed. Karthik has raced to his fifty off 22 deliveries. RCB finish at 196/8.

Apple and oranges. Jasprit Bumrah and all the other MI bowlers. Having missed out on the IPL last year, it was only a matter of time before Jasprit Bumrah made his way among the purple cap contenders.

Two more wickets for the 30-year-old, and it's a fifer! Removes Saurav Chauhan with a short ball before getting the better of Vijaykumar Vyshak with a back of a length delivery. Rohit Sharma hugs and lifts him up. He sure deserves all the flowers in the dresssing, a mighty fine spell this against the run of play. Dinesh Karthik though, wraps up the over by picking a slower one inside out over covers for SIX. 177/8 after 19 overs.

Gerald Coetzee for his final over. Misses out on the yorker and Saurav Chauhan slices a drive behind backward point for four. Dinesh Karthik wraps up the over with a pull shot over fine leg for six. Coetzee went short and quick by coming round the wicket and Karthik seemed to have premeditated it as he made room on the off side. It's been another expensive outing for the Proteas pace merchant. Finishes his spell with figures of 4-0-42-1. RCB, 168/6 after 18.

Jasprit Bumrah to bowl the 17th. On a night his bowling peers have been toyed with, Bumrah has shown how he's cut from a different cloth. As he does on this occasion. A slower full toss to lure the RCB skipper into going down the ground and he finds Tim David at long on. A second wicket for Bumrah. 

Mahipal Lomror is the new batter in and he's welcomed with a fierce yorker right on the money. A toe crusher and the umpire raises his finger. Lomror will review it. He will feel hard done by here given the fact that the impact was umpire's call. Bumrah on a hattrick. Impact Player, Saurav Chauhan denies it with a single but another spectacular over from Mumbai's pace spearhead. 154/6 after 17 overs.

Akash Madhwal into his third over. Starts off with a wide outside off. That seems to be the area of interest against Dinesh Karthik, and RCB's designated finisher seems to have anticipated the same. Just as Madhwal pitches another one on the mark, Karthik is ready with a ramp-scoop to place it over the keeper for a four. What helps the execution is the fact that it's a low full toss from the 30-year-old. Next ball, same region, more fuller, but sliced down deep third for another boundary. Off the next ball, Karthik shuffles outside off and places the full and wide delivery behind the keeper for a third boundary. Another wide follows. This has been a much needed over from RCB's perspective. And it ends with yet another boundary, in the same region. 19 from the over. 149/4 after 16 overs.

Shreyas Gopal brought in for his last over. He goes slot against Faf du Plessis and pays for it with a meaty tonk over wide long for SIX!

He finishes the spell with a wicket, having negotiated 32 runs. RCB in a promising position here with du Plessis and Dinesh Karthik in the middle. 130/4 after 15 overs.

Shepherd into his second over. He'd leaked 13 off his first over. Perhaps the over where RCB up the ante?

A fullish delivery outside the off stump is duly punished by the RCB skipper, with a lofted shot over extra cover for four. The RCB skipper gets to his fifty. The wickets have fallen at one end but he's stood by and taken his time to slot those boundaries. 50 up off 33 deliveries. Akash Madhwal makes a fine save in the deep. 10 runs from the over. 121/4 after 14 overs.

Snapping big RCB wickets is nothing new for Shreyas Gopal, who's troubled the likes of Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers in the past. This time, it's Glenn Maxwell, who's had a rough IPL. Another duck for the Aussie. It was a googly that came back into the right hander to catch him plumb. The umpire takes little time to raise his finger. Maxwell doesn't even want to review this. RCB lose a fourth wicket.

And Mumbai thought they had another. Another one hits the pads, this time it's Dinesh Karthik but the umpire isn't interested. MI opt not to go upstairs. 111/4 after 13 overs.

After what was another superb over from Jasprit Bumrah, Rajat Patidar takes the attack to Gerald Coetzee. Back-to-back sixes and he gets to his fifty off 25 deliveries. The first one is a low full toss pummelled over deep mid wicket. Next, a length ball, which is dealt with by leaning forward and dispatching the ball in the same territory. The Proteas pacer makes a comeback with a short ball, angled in on the body of Patidar, who gloves it behind to Ishan Kishan. A third wicket falls. RCB, 107/3 after 12 overs.

Mumbai had snapped two early wickets, including that of Virat Kohli courtesy Jasprit Bumrah, so it must be asked why his introduction for a second over has taken so long. It's not happened for the first time this season. With a partnership building, the premium speedster being delayed may be a decisive point in the game. For now though, both Patidar and du Plessis don't take any chances. Just the four runs from the over. A caught behind appeal is reviewed by MI but to no avail. 92/2 after 11 overs.

Sriram Veera: As soon as Hardik Pandya released that ball gently on a length in the 10th over, he must have know crack of doom awaits, and Rajat Patidar obliged him. He did that baseball move of his, as he drags his whole weight back and then sashays forward like a baseball hitter. And boy did he whack it. He absolutely walloped it and almost immediately had a glance at his captain and non-striker Faf du Plessis. The white ball kept flying to eventually fall on  second tier. And Pandya would signal to noone in particular that he thought the ball would skid on. It did skid off the seats in the crowd though.

Hardik Pandya brings himself on for the first time this evening and Rajat Patidar has a go. A good length delivery, swung along the line over the long on boundary for six. He goes to 36. A couple of wides follow. Another 13 run over for RCB, 89/2 after 10 overs.

Shreyas Gopal continues from the other end. Rajat Patidar takes the aerial route against the leg-spinner. A tossed up delivery on the off stump, slog-swept over deep mid wicket for SIX!

Nine runs from the ninth over. Fifty run partnership up between Patidar and his skipper. Time for a strategic timeout!

Vinayakk Mohanarangan: The pre-match discussion on both broadcast platforms largely centered around the 'Battle of the Best'. Jasprit Bumrah has been sensational for Mumbai Indians this year. Virat Kohli has been Royal Challengers Bengaluru's solitary consistent batter. Their teams may have struggled for wins, but the superstars were doing their part.

Also because there is history too, there. When a baby-faced Bumrah made his debut in 2013, he was hit by Kohli for three fours in his first over. But came back to remove the former India captain, leg before wicket. Unlike most of Bumrah's most celebrations these days, he let himself go with a massive roar and flailing of his arms. The first IPL wicket, and it couldn't have been a bigger name. 

Kohli was also Bumrah's 100th IPL wicket. This was during IPL 2020. In the shifted second half of the league in Abu Dhabi, Bumrah dug one in short of length, and Kohli went across the line trying to hook the ball. But the bounce was good enough to induce an edge, Kohli was caught. Not very dissimilar to the shot he attempted against Bumrah once again today to be dismissed. 

how it started how it’s going pic.twitter.com/EhpOd5tvBR

— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 28, 2020

Romario Shepherd into his first over. Goes length with a hint of width outside the off stump and du Plessis makes the most of it by flat-batting it over mid off for four. Offers a similar delivery, slightly back of length, to Patidar, who nails a similar shot for four more. RCB picking up the pace. 13 from the over. 67/2 after eight overs.

Shreyas Gopal introduced into fray. He'd have been a tempting pick given his exceptional record against this particular franchise, against Virat Kohli. But the former RCB skipper has been taken care of by Jasprit Bumrah. And for RCB, the introduction of the leg-break bowler is a welcome change. 10 runs off his first over, despite no boundary being hit. Fifty up for RCB. 54/2 after seven overs.

Sriram Veera: Rajat Patidar’s pull off Madhwal in the 6th over was interesting. It wasn’t a conventional pull over midwicket or square-leg. He had already seen Kohli perish trying that pull rather square. And so, Patidar sort of collapsed his arms and wristed it over mid-on. Safe, interesting, and suited for balls that aren’t that short too. It isn’t an on-the-up punch that batsmen occasionally play over the straight infield. Not an easy shot, though, as if the last-instant wrist-scoop doesn’t kick in, it would pop up to mid-on. We have seen Prithvi Shaw play that shot and also fall to that shot. This time around, Patidar managed to pull it off.

Akash Madhwal to bowl his second over. Rajat Patidar swivels across to fashion a half-arm jab off a good length delivery from the 30-year-old, which sails over mid on for four. Madhwal then, takes du Plessis by surprise with one that jags back into the RCB skipper at a sharp angle to hit him in the mid-section. The latter though, clsoes the over with one struck hard through the off side for four. RCB, 44/2 after six overs.

Sriram Veera: Bumrah vs Kohli was supposed to be box-office stuff but it went down rather tamely. For some reason Virat Kohli was looking edgy from the get-go and when he started to shuffle around even to Jasprit Bumrah, the outcome seemed inevitable. He had backed away for a slog and missed. Then a nipbacker hit him on the pad as he tried to flick it rather forcefully. And then he went for a shot that he now and then plays in T20 in the recent years: the slog-swipe to the on side irrespective of the length. Considering that ball wasn’t that short for that shot and even seamed in, it wasn’t a surprise that it caught the inside edge for the wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan to lunge to his left to take the catch.

A change of ends for Gerald Coetzee. Only positive to come out of the powerplay is that Faf du Plessis is keeping his search for boundaries on. Once again goes after his fellow Proteas, this time by pegging back in his crease before muscling the length ball over mid off for six. 35/2 after five overs.

Akash Madhwal replaces Gerald Coetzee from the other end. An inspired change as the 30-year-old hands MI a second wicket in the powerplay. Back of a length, pinned on the stumps, and Jacks - who looked promising with that first boundary - has perfectly located Tim David at mid on. RCB in deep trouble early in this game.

Rajat Patidar is off the mark with a boundary, clips one on his pads down fine leg for four. RCB, 28/2 after four overs.

It's one of the contests everyone had their eyes on and we've got it for the first time in two years. Jasprit Bumrah steams in against Virat Kohli and induces a loud LBW appeal off one that kept low. The umpire ain't interested though. Next ball is angled into the right hander and pitched at length. Takes an inside edge and Ishan Kishan takes a good catch diving to his left. Hardik Pandya is all smiles. Bumrah strikes, Mumbai have their main man!

Will Jacks is the new man in, making his IPL debut and what a test this is for him. Tournament's - all time and this season's - leading run scorer has just been removed by one of the great bowlers of the game. The Englishman looks up to the mark though. Gets off the mark with a beatifully places flick shot down deep square leg for four. Bumrah though ends the over with a crafty slower one outside off. Just the four runs and the wicket of Virat Kohli from his first. 18/1 after three overs.

Gerald Coetzee, MI's leading wicket-taker of the season so far, comes in from the other end. Economy has been an issue for the Proteas, he's gone above 11 an over this season. His pace though, hasn't gone down. One to Faf du Plessis, keeps low and catches the RCB skipper on the thigh pad. Next ball though, he makes room outside off to lap one all the way over fine leg for SIX! 14/0 after two overs.

RCB skipper Faf du Plessis pierces the gap through the off side, splitting the cover and cover-point fielder for the first boundary of the night. He'd want a few of these to get some much needed runs he's missed out on so far this season. Seven runs come from the first over. 

Right then, so many stars in the offering tonight at the Wankhede. So many intriguing matchups. But as it stands, these two teams have just a win each. Two valuable points on offer. Mumbai will feel more confident, with a game in hand and having arrived into the contest on the back of a win at this very venue. Mohammad Nabi has been handed the new ball. Virat Kohli on strike, with a vociferous support from the crowd. Off we go.

Mumbai Indians: Suryakumar Yadav, Dewald Brevis, Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera, Harvik Desai
Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Suyash Prabhudessai, Saurav Chauhan, Swapnil Singh, Rajan Kumar, Karn Sharma

-MI have 49 wins in Wankhede
-Shreyas Gopal plays his 50th IPL match
-Suryakumar Yadav needs one four to reach 350 fours in his IPL journey
-Suryakumar Yadav needs another six sixes to reach 300 sixes in T20s
-Suryakumar Yadav needs another three fours to reach 700 fours in T20s. (Overall) 
-Mohammed Nabi (348) needs another two fours to reach 400 fours in T20s
-Shreyas Gopal (49) needs one wicket to reach the landmark of 50 wickets in the IPL

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Tim David, Romario Shepherd, Mohammad Nabi, Shreyas Gopal, Jasprit Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee, Akash Madhwal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis(c), Will Jacks, Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Dinesh Karthik(w), Mahipal Lomror, Reece Topley, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep

Hardik Pandya: "Similar track but in the evening might be better to bat on. There was dew last couple of days. Mood before and after the win has been the same. We play every game with a fresh start. Want to put early pressure with the new ball. (On team effort last time) I heard it was the highest score without anyone scoring fifty, gives confidence to us that even one guy batting long we can score 234. At the same time, bowlers held their nerve in the powerplay well. It has been a chasing ground and looking at the tradition. One change, Shreyas comes in for Piyush Chawla."

Faf du Plessis: "We've tried to change a few things around. Our plan today is to bring a few fresh faces and give them chances. We want to make as few changes as possible but when you reach yourself in this position where you don't play your best cricket, then you have to make a brave decision. The sixth game is the right time to do that. Virat has been excellent with consistency, but that's what is frustrating, we can't look at the opposition and say they've outplayed us. We've not done as well. But with T20 cricket, we are close to turning it around. Mumbai got that in their last game and we are looking to do the same. Three changes: Jacks comes in at No. 3. Mahipal is back. And Vyshak too."

Hardik Pandya wins the toss, Mumbai opt to bowl first at Wankhede

There's been a whole lot of chatter around Virat Kohli and whether India's leading run scorer at the T20 World Cup should be a part of the squad for the tournament this summer. 

His RCB teammate, Glenn Maxwell hopes India don't, and he has a good reason for it. "It's not surprising in the fact that there's 1.5 billion people, and I reckon half of them are unbelievable cricketers, in this country. It's a hard team to get into. You look at India's best T20 players, all of them playing in the IPL, they're phenomenal. There should be heat on every player at all the times. If they're not doing well, there should be heat on them. But Virat Kohli is the most clutch player I've ever played against. You see his career just stands as the most amazing tournament rap sheet. The innings he played us against us in Mohali in the 2016 T20 World Cup is the most amazing innings I've had played against me. It changed the face of the whole game. He was hitting balls to different areas on a wicket that was inconsistent. He had the ability to change his hands position at the last moment and flick it almost like a table tennis bat and time it into the gap or over the fences. It's something that's unmatched around the world. His awareness is phenomenal. It's been amazing to train alongside him and watch him go about it. But I still have to play against him. So I'm hoping India don't pick him. It would be certainly great to play against him," Maxwell said on ESPN.

Michael Clarke and Sanjay Manjrekar: It's a red soil pitch as usual for today's game at the Wankhede. 65m and 59m square boundaries, the straight boundary is at 74m. So 200 could be a par score considering the dimensions. Thye pitch itself is an absolute belter, a batting paradise. It's been a high-scoring ground, both teams could go aggressive against the new ball in the powerplay. Not much spin, just a beautiful batting wicket. It's a no-brainer, the captain winning the toss would opt to bowl first.

We've seen his fellow Indian opener Shubman Gill nail these standstill straight lofted shots on more than one occasion this season. Can Rohit unleash one of these today and bag a big score?

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— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 11, 2024

RR, KKR, LSG and CSK are the four sides that are currently in the top four.

Rashid Khan dragged the Gujarat Titans to a three-wicket victory over table toppers Rajasthan Royals on the final ball of the match in a thriller at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Wednesday. Gujarat needed two runs off the final ball when the Afghanistan star hit the ball from Avesh Khan to the boundary ropes. (More here)

Rajasthan Royals’ veteran Yuzvendra Chahal tops the Purple Cap charts with 10 wickets after the match against Gujarat Titans, edging past Chennai Super Kings Mustafizur Rahman who is at 9 scalps. 

Also in the race is Mumbai Indians' Gerald Coetzee, currently eighth among the top-wicket takers with seven wickets in four games. (More here)

Rajasthan Royals duo Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson strengthened their place in the Orange Cap race when they scored fifties against the Gujarat Titans on Wednesday and moved to 2nd and 4th spot respectively. 

However, still holding the cap is RCB's Virat Kohli who scored his first hundred of the season - eighth in IPL overall - against Rajasthan Royals at Saturday. (More here)

The temperature will be around 34 in the day time and will drop down to 25 in the night time as per Accuweather. However, there will be humidty of about 65-75 per cent which might bring dew into play and there is no chance of rainfall.

MI: The skipper Hardik himself would be the most interesting player to watch out for. Though he would be relieved that he has a box ticked after registering the first win the jury is still out on him as Hardik-The player is yet to show his prowess. He has had a couple of cameos and hot and cold bowling performances but nothing significant.

RCB: Similar to Hardik Faf du Plessis has had a pretty average tournament with respect to his standards. In five games so far the South African has scored 109 runs at an average of 21.80. If RCB wants to get back to winning way they need their skipper to get back to his best and performing again.

MI: Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Romario Shepherd, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Jasprit Bumrah

RCB: Virat Kohli, Faf du Plessis (c), Rajat Patidar, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Saurav Chauhan, Reece Topley, Mayank Dagar, Mohammed Siraj, Yash Dayal

If anyone is looking for a tutorial on how to throw away a victory, look no further than the death bowling of Kuldeep Sen and Avesh Khan, who combined to allow Gujarat Titans back into a game they had all but lost. Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia were able to slog through poor bowling and ride the good fortune of plenty of extras in the final overs to give their side a three-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday. (Read more)

Tim David, MI: "We're most focused on ourselves. It's pretty obvious we didn't play our best cricket in the first three matches and as we start to gain some momentum, this team can get on a real winning run. We're looking forward to that happening."

Reece Topley, RCB: "The goal is still to qualify for finals and it's taking each game as it comes. We're going to do everything we can to win tomorrow and even if things don't go our way, it's not impossible to qualify. So I think we're just going to go about it a game at a time."