MI vs PBKS Highlights, IPL 2022: Punjab Kings hand Mumbai Indians fifth-straight defeat; win by 12 runs

Former England cricketer Graeme Swann believes that Mumbai Indians need to be ultra-agressive.

“Mumbai Indians basically need to take a template from what CSK did against RCB and copy that going forward. If they can go with an ultra-aggressive intent, they will be able to win (their upcoming matches). As far as their win against Punjab Kings is concerned, they are a very aggressive side and Mumbai Indians will have to fight fire with fire and I think that's what Mumbai will do,” Swann said on Star Sports.

Jasprit Bumrah says that it is a transitonal phase for the Mumbai Indians.

“It's a transition phase that every cricketer understands, and every team goes through that. We are in that phase; we've got a new group. We've got some of the old core group as well, but a lot of new guys who are understanding the team, understanding the franchise, understanding how the scenarios works.”

With four successive losses so far, Mumbai can equal their record for a worst-ever start to the tournament (five losses, 2014). 

Both captains – Rohit Sharma and Mayank Agarwal have been going through an inconsistent patch of late. Will they be among the runs tonight?

Jasprit Bumrah has picked 133 IPL wickets out of which 56% wickets have come in the 2nd innings while defending the total.

However, he is yet to take a wicket in the second innings in this season.

The side can hand a debut to Raj Bawa who could potentially fill in for Odean Smith.

Mayank Agarwal, Shikhar Dhawan, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma, Raj Bawa, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Vaibhav Arora, Sandeep Sharma

If the Punjab Kings want to play both, Bairstow and Rajapaksa, they will have to do away with Odean Smith – thus losing an additional bowling option in the XI.

It would be best for Mumbai Indians to play with all four overseas players in the XI.

Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Kieron Pollard, Fabian Allen, Murugan Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Tymal Mills, Basil Thampi

Four matches have been played at the MCA Stadium so far; in the first two games, the teams batting first won. However, the previous two matches were won by teams chasing.

Rohit's long-time opening partner in international cricket, Shikhar Dhawan will also be eyeing a big record in the game against MI.

He needs only 89 runs to become the only second player to reach 6000 runs in IPL!

Rohit Sharma needs only 25 runs to complete 10,000 T20 runs. 

He would be the 7th batter, and 2nd Indian (after Virat Kohli) to reach this landmark.

Tymal Mills is currently MI's highest wicket-taker (6 dismissals in three matches), but he has bowled at an economy rate of nearly 10 (9.90). In fact, the most economical bowler for MI has been Murugan Ashwin, who has bowled at 7.46!

Chahar is currently the highest wicket-taker for the Punjab Kings (7 wickets in four games), and is also the most economical of all (6.31). Before the game against Titans, Chahar had conceded only one six in 12 overs!

Rahul Chahar spent a majority of his time in the IPL with Mumbai Indians (2018-2021). However, he was picked by the Punjab Kings ahead of the 2022 edition and will be squaring off against some of the known faces when he takes on the side at the MCA Stadium in Pune.

Tim David lost his place in the side to Brevis and while he can make a return the possibility of MI handing a debut cap to Fabian Allen can't be ruled out.

Allen boasts of a death over strike rate of 190, and can also chip in with handy overs with the ball.

While Brevis has impressed with his limited outings, and Pollard continues to be one of the mainstays in the XI.. who will be the other two overseas players in the MI side?

Or, rather; Will MI have two more overseas players in the XI?

In three games, Rajapaksa has scored 83 runs with an incredible strike rate of 230.55. He has hit five fours and eight sixes in merely 36 deliveries across the three innings.

In three games, Rajapaksa has scored 83 runs with an incredible strike rate of 230.55. He has hit five fours and eight sixes in merely 36 deliveries across the three innings.

Jonny Bairstow made a return to the IPL in the previous game but failed to make a mark with the bat, as he was dismissed on 8. With Bhanuka Rajapaksa on the bench, the PBKS will be tempted to go with the Sri Lankan batter as he had been in fine form over the past three games.

But will PBKS take the tough call?  

If Suryakumar has been shining for the Mumbai Indians, PBKS' INR 11.5 crore buy Liam Livingstone is smashing the bowlers all around the park for the Kings. He made a quiet start to the season with two successive scores of 19, but brought out his A-game with knocks of 60 and 64 against CSK and GT respectively.

Like Rohit Sharma at Mumbai Indians, Mayank Agarwal also had an indifferent start to the season. He failed to breach double figures in his last three games, having registered scores of 1, 4, 5. 

208/5 in 19 overs (against RCB, won by 5 wickets)

137 all-out in 18.2 overs (against KKR, lost by 6 wickets)

180/8 in 20 overs (against CSK, won by 54 runs)

189/9 in 20 overs (against GT, lost by 6 wickets)

An ultra-aggressive approach from the Punjab Kings has been lauded by fans and former cricketers alike, but it has also been a reason for their downfall in two of their four games so far.