KXIP vs MI Highlights and Match Recap, IPL 2019, Full cricket score: Rahul's fifty takes Kings XI Punjab to eight-wicket win

Brilliant win for Kings XI Punjab. They will take a lot of heart from the way they played tonight. Rahul’s return to form will be an added bonus.

Mumbai was found wanting in both planning and implementation. Their batsmen got stuck in the middle overs. Contrast their approach to someone like Mayank Agarwal who got busy against the spinners from the word go. Mumbai Indians need to rethink their plan for the middle overs. Eight overs of spin from Punjab and Pandya brothers got to play hardly any of it. They have a long batting line up but is rendered worthless if Hardik and Krunal don’t get their best chance to make an impact. Yuvraj or Pollard may be better served by batting in a situation where they are forced to go for an all-out attack. Ishan Kishan also needs a look in at some point. He can probably come in for Pollard as a specialist batsman.

Meanwhile, DC have won the toss against KKR!

Meanwhile at the Kotla, @DelhiCapitals win the toss and elect to bowl first against the @KKRiders #DCvKKR pic.twitter.com/2x20PuQuaJ

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 30, 2019

This is KXIP’s fifth consecutive victory at Mohali in IPL.

KXIP win by eight wickets and eight balls to spare.

KXIP cruise to an easy victory in their first home game at Mohali. KL Rahul bats through the innings and is back amongst runs. Miller swivels and pulls it to square leg for a single to complete a comfortable win. Two more points for the Kings XI.

FOUR! Very smartly done there from KL Rahul. Opens the face of the bat late and runs it down to third man boundary. Using all the pace generated by Bumrah. Two more needed.

Mumbai have been totally outplayed by Punjab in all departments. They bowled in better areas. They planned their chase expertly and picked the bowlers to go after. They ran hard in the middle overs to ensure the inning doesn’t lose momentum.

After 18 overs,Kings XI Punjab 171/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 66 , David Miller 14)

If there was any late pressure building on that has been wiped off with a boundary off the last ball of McClenaghan’s over. A wide down the leg side resulted in an extra delivery that was hit for four by Miller. Six runs needed off 12 balls now for KXIP.

FOUR! David Miller backs away on the leg side and McClenaghan looks to bowl it full outside off but didn’t nail it by bowling it to the edge of tramline. In Miller’s range and skims it past extra cover for a boundary

After 17 overs,Kings XI Punjab 163/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 64 , David Miller 9)

Here is Bumrah. MI’s last hope that is quickly extinguishing as Bumrah is taken for 11 runs from his over. Rahul’s calm has been indomitable today. KXIP cruising towards the target. Elemantry stuff now really for them. The home team requires 14 off 18 balls.

FOUR! Rahul is the man here for KXIP. Bumrah slanted one across and Rahul tucks it around corner for consecutive boundary to backward square leg fence.

KL Rahul against MI in IPL:

46, 10, 25, 25, 23, 68*, 24, 94, 59* (batting today)

There is a reason why Ashwin seemed so happy to be back home at Mohali. His team enjoys this ground. They bowled the right lengths here when they were bowling and now they are using the size of this ground to pick up twos. After Gayle’s wicket, they have picked ten twos between 8th and 16th over. Those hard twos meant they were never under real pressure even when they couldn’t collect boundaries.

FOUR! That’s not good from Bumrah. In fact that atypical from MI’s strike bowler. An easy knee high full toss outside off to Rahul, who punches it through covers for a boundary

After 16 overs,Kings XI Punjab 152/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 53 , David Miller 9)

MI need to get over out from somewhere with Bumrah and Malinga to bowl their remaining two overs each. Here’s Malinga. Substitute fielder Anukul Roy’s misfeld results in an extra run. Malinga slips one down the leg side with twos on either side of it. KL Rahul has been there from the start of the innings, he is pacing it nicely wanting to stay there till the very end. KXIP procure 12 runs from the over and now need only 25 off 24 balls.

FIFTY! Short from Malinga and Rahul pivots, gets a top edge to fine leg fence to bring his first half-century of this season. Looking to see KXIP home today.

KL Rahul showing the benefit of staying in. He was struggling to get his timing right but didn’t throw it away by playing a rash shot. A class player like him only needs one good hit to turn it around. Hardik Pandya has been straight up and down on this pitch with no variation. KL Rahul singles him to go after and picks 19 off the over to put the Kings firmly in the driver’s seat. They have planned and executed this chase beautifully so far.

After 15 overs,Kings XI Punjab 140/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 43 , David Miller 8)

Just the over KXIP wanted at this stage. Hardik concedes 19 runs from the over. Again a six for KXIP to start the 15th over that helps the cause. Couple of wides from Pandya results in extra deliveries in the over along with two boundaries. The equation is down to 37 needed off 30 balls. Time out taken. Bumrah’s two overs still to account. Can Bumrah turn it for MI twice in three days?

FOUR! Short ball into Miller’s body from Hardik and the left-hander twirls and gets it to fine leg fence for another boundary of the over.

FOUR! Full outside off and KL Rahul drives it in the air and just wide on the right off Rohit Sharma’s reach at cover. Rahul’s teeing off…

Krunal has the last laugh against Mayank. He shortened his length after getting hit over his head earlier in the over and gleefully accepted the return catch. KL Rahul still hasn’t found his timing but he is still there. If he can give company to David Miller till the end, Punjab will be home.

SIX! Short from Hardik and there’s a bit of width as well, Rahul creates room and uppercuts over the backward point boundary

After 14 overs,Kings XI Punjab 121/2 ( KL Rahul (W) 31 , David Miller 3)

A six early in the over helps KXIP take 12 runs from the over, however the hosts lost Mayank Agarwal’s wicket in the over. New man David Miller pumps it down thr ground for a couple to get off the mark. Krunal ends with figures of 43 runs off his four over, picking the wickets of Gayle and Agarwal in the process.

OUT! Goner! Agarwal has hit it straight back to the bowler and Krunal has held on to a good catch. Was held slightly back of a length and directed into Agarwal. The batsman had perhaps premediated to go down the ground, the length wasn’t there and hence couldn’t get the elvation or the power behind him. Another wicket for Krunal. Important breakthrough for MI. End of a valuable knock from Agarwal.
 

Agarwal c and b Krunal Pandya 43(21)

SIX! Impressive shot that from Agarwal. Just backs away a little to create that extra room and hits it firmly over long off. Terrific shot for a six.

After 13 overs,Kings XI Punjab 109/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 30 , Mayank Agarwal 35)

Hardik Pandya is back into the attack. Hardik wisely varies his pace in the over and with some good work in the field McClenaghan saves a couple of runs for his team. He runs across from sweeper cover to deep point to save a couple as Rahul cut one through point. KXIP require 68 off 48 deliveries.

Hardik Pandya’s economy rate in T20 cricket:

Last 13 T20s : 9.88

Before that : 7.79

Mayank Agarwal against MI in IPL:

Last five innings combined – 26 runs

Today — 33* runs (batting)

After 12 overs,Kings XI Punjab 103/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 26 , Mayank Agarwal 33)

Agarwal with the pressure-releasing six from Krunal’s over. KXIP go past the 100-run mark as the 50-run stand comes up between Rahul and Mayank. Rahul is yet to kick on as he finds himself on 26 off 32 balls.

SIX! Mayank Agarwal shimmies down the wicket and goes over the top. Hits it against the turn and clears the long fence as KXIP cross the 100-run mark.

Punjab have a slight edge at the moment with those nine wickets in hand. KL Rahul has got stuck at one end, but the good thing is he hasn’t thrown it away. Two overs of Bumrah will be the key as always. Rohit still needs to get four more overs out of Pandya brother and Markandey. That’s where Punjab will look to cash in.

After 11 overs,Kings XI Punjab 91/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 24 , Mayank Agarwal 23)

Rohit brings McClenaghan back into the attack. No real attempt of a big shot in the over from either of the two batsmen out there. A couple to deep cover to end the over. Seven runs came from it. KXIP need 86 to win off 54 balls.

After 10 overs,Kings XI Punjab 84/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 19 , Mayank Agarwal 21)

Agarwal, who walked in the 8th over, has raced past opener and good friend KL Rahul in the number runs scored. Boundary alongside few singles and a couple. Stifled appeal for a leg before off the last ball but the ball was heading down. At the halfway stage KXIP need 93 off 60 balls.

Mayank Agarwal has looked busy against spinners right from the start. He is in prime form and has used his feet confidently against both spinners forcing them to bowl flat which made it easier for him to play off the back foot. He is threatening to take the game away from Mumbai here. Mohali is a difficult ground to defend boundaries. These two will also run well between the wicket and pick those twos on this big outfield.

FOUR! Edge and past the keeper. Agawal was looking to cut this delivery through point, but there wasn’t enough room, gets an thick outside edge that runs to third man.

After 9 overs,Kings XI Punjab 73/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 17 , Mayank Agarwal 14)

Two identical shots from Mayank Agarwal for a boundary ensuring KXIP do not lose the momentum after Gayle’s departure. Markande’s first over costs 12 runs.

FOUR! Similar length from Markhande and Agarwal deploys the same shot. The resemblence can me mistaken for a replay and again the result is the same for Agarwal.

FOUR! A fraction short from Markhande and Agarwal has pounced on that. Pulling it away through midwicket for another boundary.

After 8 overs,Kings XI Punjab 61/1 ( KL Rahul (W) 15 , Mayank Agarwal 5)

The Pandya brothers combine to get rid of Chris Gayle. Both teams lost their openers after a 50-run opening stand. Agarwal finishes Krunal’s first over with a boundary.

Gayle succumbs to the pressure from KL Rahul’s end as much as the pressure from the Mumbai bowlers. Classic Rohit captaincy playbook this. He likes to build pressure with dot balls, wickets are a side effect of that pressure.

FOUR! Mayank Agarwal lofts it straight over the bowler’s head and beats long off for his first boundary. Didn’t over hit, just judged the length early and went straight.

OUT! Gayle gone! Oh dear, he has mishit this one off Krunal’s bowling and brother Hardik takes the catch at long on boundary. Krunal pushed this one across the left hander, who was looking to flat-bat it over long on. The bowling change works for MI.

Gayle c Hardik Pandya b Krunal Pandya 40 (24)

After 7 overs,Kings XI Punjab 52/0 ( KL Rahul (W) 11 , Chris Gayle 40)

Hardik Pandya is brought into the attack after the powerplay. Gayle with two back-to-back maximums off Hardik, it seems too easy for Universe Boss for the moment. Raced to 40 off 23 balls. Fifty-run stand for the opening wicket. Hardik’s first over costs 14 runs.

The pitch has some assistance for the seam bowlers if they are prepared to hit the hard length. But any room you give will be duly punished by these quality players. Hardik Pandya started well by bowling it short and into Rahul’s body, but then spoiled it by pitched the ball in Gayle’s half who capitalised by hitting them out of the park. Poor planning from the Mumbai all-rounder.

SIX! Right from the sweet spot on this occassion! Hardik bowls length outside off stump and Gayle eyes the straight boundary. Launches it over sightscreen

SIX! Gayle gets the front leg out of the way and swings hard. Didn’t catch it from the middle of the bat but it doesn’t really matter, it has carried all the way over mid wicket fence

Bumrah has never dismissed Gayle in the IPL so far. Gayle’s SR against him before today was 90.

After 6 overs,Kings XI Punjab 38/0 ( KL Rahul (W) 10 , Chris Gayle 28)

Bumrah doesn’t give any width whatsoever to Gayle as he tries to cramp him up with angling into Gayle’s midriff from over the wicket. After three dots, Gayle taps one down to mid off and sets off for a quick single. Rahul collects a single to squre leg off the final ball making it only two runs from the final over of the powerplay. Another excellent over from Bumrah. Though Kings XI have scored just a touch over six in the first six, Rohit would have liked a wicket of one of the two openers. Bumrah has finished half his quota. Time for a strategic time out.

Chris Gayle’s 300 IPL sixes – innings-wise:

1-100 : 37

101-200 : 69

201-300: 114

Those two sixes from Gayle notwithstanding, Punjab haven’t tried to be flashy in the powerplay. They are looking to build partnerships and lay a solid foundation. Rohit wouldn’t mind this though, he likes to build pressure in the field to take the game deep, and then back Bumrah to defend whatever they have to.

After 5 overs,Kings XI Punjab 36/0 ( KL Rahul (W) 9 , Chris Gayle 27)

Couple of delightful strokes for boundary from Chris Gayle. He has moved to 27 in quicktime and not taken too many risks either. Ominous signs for Rohit and the Mumbai Indians. Two boundaries and a single in the over.

FOUR! Slower length delivery outside off and Gayle picked it early. He waits for it, rocks back in his crease and scythes it through extra cover for another boundary

FOUR! Execellent shot from Chris Gayle. Malinga looking for the shape into Gayle, goes full on the middle stump, Gayle gets his feet out and drives it straight past the bowler into long on fence.

After 4 overs,Kings XI Punjab 27/0 ( KL Rahul (W) 9 , Chris Gayle 18)

Jasprit Bumrah introduces into the attack. Very good opening over from Bumrah, but Rahul takes away the points for a spectacular boundary, the only scoring shot of the over, through covers.

FOUR! That is a top shot from KL Rahul. Not really a bad delivery from Bumrah but KL leans forward and cracks it through extra cover for his first boundary

After 3 overs,Kings XI Punjab 23/0 ( KL Rahul (W) 5 , Chris Gayle 18)

Rahul is playing the waiting game here today, perhaps wants to get a good sighter before he starts playing his shorts meanwhile his partner Gayle announces himself with two monstrous sixes off McClenaghan. Barely breaks a sweat to swat the ball into the orbit.

The two Punjab openers were happy to play themselves in at the first couple of overs. Punjab are a side that rely on their openers to put them in winning positions, so a bit of caution at the top is understandable. The slightest error in line and length from McClenaghan in the 3rd over and Gayle unleashes the rainmakers he is famous for.

SIX! McClenaghan compesantes for the short length delivery, pitches it up and Gayle has decdided to run into the left-arm Kiwi bowler. Pumps it down the ground over long on for his 300th IPL six.

SIX! Simply cannot bowl him there! Short of a length into Gayle’s body and the big Jamican swings and connects sweetly. Mighty slap that as the ball sails deep into the mid wicket stand.

After 2 overs,Kings XI Punjab 8/0 ( KL Rahul (W) 3 , Chris Gayle 5)

Lasith Malinga opens the attack with McClenaghan. KL Rahul has been very watchful in his approach so far. Malinga curves one back into Gayle’s pads followed by a loud appeal from the bowler but looked like it was drifting down the leg side. Only two runs off his first over from Malinga.

Lasith Malinga has taken 22 wickets from 13 matches against KXIP in IPL — the joint third most by any bowler against them in the league so far.

Batting average against MI in IPL:

Chris Gayle – 41.30

KL Rahul – 45.00

After 1 overs,Kings XI Punjab 5/0 ( KL Rahul (W) 1 , Chris Gayle 4)

KL Rahul, who is searching for some runs in this IPL, gets off the blocks with a single on the offside. McClenaghan darts one into Gayle’s pads and inquires the umpire, who turns down his plea. MI skipper Rohit also feels the ball was going high. McClenaghan then goes short for a couple of deliveries and when he tries the third time, Gayle simply pushes it over the slip region,  to third man fence.

FOUR! Boundary off the last ball of the over. McClenaghan drops it short once again and Gayle waits on it to simply direct an upper cut to third man boundary. Lifted it purposely and places it to the right of short third man.

Out walk Chris Gayle and KL Rahul to begin the chase for Kings XI Punjab. Rahul to face the first ball. One wide slip in place as Mitchell McClenaghan gears up to bowl.

This is smart cricket from Punjab. This ground has long square boundaries, so bowling short of length even at the death is a good option. 176 is slightly below par on this ground so Mumbai will have to bowl out of their skin to pull this one off.

KXIP need 177 to win!

After 20 overs,Mumbai Indians 176/7 ( Mitchell McClenaghan 0 , Mayank Markande 0)

Pandya slams the full toss from Shami through mid-wicket for a six. Gets out trying to put away the short ball over mid-wicket. Mumbai Indians add nine in final over to reach 176/7 in 20 overs.

OUT! Hardik Pandya departs! Goes for the short-arm jab on the short ball. Doesn’t connect well with the shot as Mandeep takes the catch just ahead of mid-wicket ropes. Useful runs added.

Hardik Pandya c Mandeep b Shami 31(19). MI: 175/7.

SIX! Pandya refuses to take a single on first ball to retain the strike and them slams Shami through mid-wicket for a maximum. Last over blasts these.

After 19 overs,Mumbai Indians 167/6 ( Hardik Pandya 23 , Mitchell McClenaghan 0)

13 off the over, three fours but the wicket of Krunal. Krunal gets a four off pull shot to square leg as a lazy Shami lets it to run to ropes. He follows it up with a smoking drive through extra-cover for another boundary. Goes for another pull shot but fails to time it well as Murugan takes the catch at square leg. Hardik adds a four as he throws his bat on the wide and short ball by Viljoen through point.

Wickets are falling in a heap for Mumbai here at the end. They only have themselves to blame here for allowing the pressure to creep up in the middle overs. The Kings know the angles on this ground well and have bowled a shortish length to force Mumbai batsmen to go for the longer square boundaries.

KXIP loses 67 percentage of the IPL matches whenever Andrew Tye conceded 30-plus runs.

FOUR! Lovely! Cracking shot! Short, wide and Hardik slams it through the point for a boundary

The Kings keep pegging in. This inning is going nowhere now. Mayank Agarwal took an exceptional catch right at the boundary to dismiss Keiron Pollard. Mumbai really needs to think about their number 4 and 5 here. Both Yuvraj and Pollard play with hard hands can get stuck at the crease on a bad day.

OUT! Krunal Pandya show is over. After two consecutive fours went for a third one as he played the pull. Didn’t time it well as Murugan took the catch at square leg.

Krunal Pandya c Murugan Ashwin b Viljoen 10(5). MI: 162/6.

FOUR! Krunal upping the ante here. This time through the off. Smokes the length ball outside off through deep extra-cover

FOUR! Viljoen welcomed back into attack by Krunal with a four. Plays a pull shot to backward square leg, Two fielders there but both were lazy as Krunal got a four

After 18 overs,Mumbai Indians 154/5 ( Hardik Pandya 19 , Krunal Pandya 2)

Brilliant catch by Agarwal helps KXIP remove Pollard. The batsman went for a huge shot down the ground but sent it in orbit, didn’t get the distance as Agarwal judged it to perfection. Stood just ahead of ropes with his eyes only on the ball and took it safely. Tye was delighted. Krunal Pandya comes out to bat. Eight off the over.

WICKET! Pollard out! Credit must go to Agarwal for the catch. Pollard went for a big shot down the ground which went up in the air to orbit but Agarwal did well to judge it perfectly, stand at the ropes and take it

Pollard c Agarwal b Tye 7(9). MI 146/5.

After 17 overs,Mumbai Indians 146/4 ( Kieron Pollard 7 , Hardik Pandya 15)

Nine off Viljoen’s over which also included a terrific shot from Pandya. Viljoen banged in one short as Pandya cracked it through square leg for a boundary.

FOUR! A whacking shot by Pandya through square leg. Viljoen goes short against the all-rounder who hoicks it through the leg side for another boundary

Yuvraj never got going against the spinners today who bowled a good length and trajectory to him. Murugan Ashwin finally got rewarded with Yuvraj’s wicket in his final over. Yuvraj will be disappointed with his effort today. His 18 off 22 balls has sucked the momentum out of this inning in the middle overs. Only Four overs to go from here. Pandya brothers and Pollard really need to make them count.

After 16 overs,Mumbai Indians 137/4 ( Kieron Pollard 3 , Hardik Pandya 10)

Good over for Tye! Just six in the 16th over as KXIP stay in ascendancy here. Mumbai need some big shots in last overs to ensure a strong finish at Mohali.

After 15 overs,Mumbai Indians 131/4 ( Kieron Pollard 2 , Hardik Pandya 5)

The spinners have pulled the game back here for KXIP after Shami dismissed QDK. Only 11 in the last two overs including the wicket of Yuvraj, who gets out against Murugan trying to play a slog sweep, catch taken by Shami at backward square leg. Hardik gets a four first ball after his edge zooms past keeper Rahul behind the wicket.

FOUR! Very fortunate Hardik Pandya there. Edges the first ball trying to cut from very close but it skips past the keeper for a boundary behind the wicket

Kieron Pollard’s batting average against KXIP in IPL:

at Mohali – 15.75
Outside Mohali – 37.71

OUT! Yuvraj gone! Scoreboard pressure probably. Goes for a slog-sweep off Murugan and picks the longest boundary towards backward square leg, doesn’t get the connect as Shami takes a safe catch.

Yuvraj c Shami b Murugan Ashwin 18(22). MI: 126/4.

Another timely strike from Kings XI. QDK was starting to look dangerous after bringing up his half-century. Shami just kept attacking the stumps, as he does so well in this format and was rewarded with a wicket. Ashwin sensed the moment again and came back into the attack right after that wicket to bowl a quiet 4-run over. Mumbai Indians still have a good total on the board but they need to end this with a flourish to challenge the strong Punjab batting line up.

After 14 overs,Mumbai Indians 124/3 ( Yuvraj Singh 17 , Kieron Pollard 1)

Good over by Ashwin. Just four conceded including a wide and three singles. Kieron Pollard has replaced QDK to join Yuvi in the middle.

After 13 overs,Mumbai Indians 120/3 ( Yuvraj Singh 15 , )

Shami was slammed for a big six in the over by QDK but he bounced back after dismissing the opener. First the six, it was put in QDK’s arc as he got down to slam it over deep square leg and then went for a sweep, moved across against the straight one but missed it completely as Shami got the wicket LBW.

It was Quinton de Kock’s fourth consecutive 45-plus score against KXIP in IPL.

OUT! Shami strikes and removes dangerous De Kock! QDK went across to play a sweep but Shami just kept it straight. QDK missed and Shami got him out LBW.

 De Kock lbw b Shami 60(39). MI: 120/3.

SIX! Lovely shot! In QDK’s arc as he puts it out of park. Steps out against Shami and picks the length delivery early as he pulls it over deep square leg.

Yuvraj Singh has played 17 IPL innings at Mohali but has never scored a fifty before today. His SR at Mohali in IPL is 150.18 though.

These are perfect batting conditions at Mohali. Punjab’s head coach, Mike Hesson reckons his team will be happy to chase 180 here. Yuvraj Singh hasn’t had much of the strike in this brief partnership with DeKock. He was quick to pounce whenever Tye erred in line on length in the 11th over and picked two boundaries. With nine overs to play, one of these two batsmen needs to really go after the bowling from here on.

After 12 overs,Mumbai Indians 110/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 53 , Yuvraj Singh 13)

QDK reaches his fifty with a slog-sweep boundary though mid-wicket. Didn’t get the timing right but Mayank Agarwal couldn’t reach there on time as it runs down for a four. Eight off the over.

FOUR! FIFTY! QDK is setting it up very well for a big innings. Goes for a slog sweep, safely through mid-wicket to complete his half-century.

After 11 overs,Mumbai Indians 102/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 47 , Yuvraj Singh 12)

You would have forgotten Yuvraj was batting with QDK but he sends the timely reminder. Picks the slower one from Tye to play a slice over covers, a one-handed check drive for a four and then a straight four down the track off low full toss.

FOUR! This time Yuvraj decides to go down the track. Punishes Tye goes for a low full toss, on his pads as Yuvi slams a straight drive. 100 up for MI.

FOUR! That was too easy for Yuvi! Tye goes full on his pads as Yuvi makes space to slice it over extra-covers. MI inching close to 100-run mark

After 10 overs,Mumbai Indians 91/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 45 , Yuvraj Singh 3)

Shami returns to attack as QDK pulls out a biggie off the short ball. Shami bowls a fraction short and QDK swings his bat to pull it over backward square leg for a maximum. Pacers proving to be costly on this placid track. Spinners to play a huge role today. 11 off the over.

SIX! Shami misses his mark there and bowls a fraction short as QDK whacks it behind square leg. That’s a maximum and he’s in 40s now.

Ashwin looked to capitalise on the advantage here by bringing himself in for a third over with the two left-handers at the crease. Good positive captaincy from the Indian off-spinner, but Mumbai could afford to play some quiet overs courtesy of the flying start they got.

After 9 overs,Mumbai Indians 80/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 35 , Yuvraj Singh 2)

QDK looked rusty at the start but is now back in his groove pulling the momentum back for MI with consecutive fours off Murugan. Shimmies down against a short ball to smoke it over bowlers’ head and then whips the fuller outside ball through mid-wicket for another four. Nine off the over.

Quinton de Kock completed 1,000 IPL runs

FOURS! Back-to-back boundaries for QDK as MI get the momentum back. Comes out of crease to slap the half-tracker from Murugan down the ground and then flicks the full ball through mid-wicket

After 8 overs,Mumbai Indians 71/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 26 , Yuvraj Singh 2)

Seven off the over from skipper Ashwin. QDK crosses the 1000-run mark in IPL with a four. Cuts the length ball through off to beat the short third man fielder. Three singles added in the over.

FOUR! QDK goes for a cut on a length ball from Ashwin, was very close but does well to beat the short third man. He’s crossed 1000-run mark in IPL now

After 7 overs,Mumbai Indians 64/2 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 20 , Yuvraj Singh 1)

Ashwin calls for another Ashwin and Murugan strikes in his first over. Suryakumar falls trying to pull a half-tracker slider. Missed the ball completely as it crashed into his pads. Yuvraj Singh has come out to bat. There was an appeal also against QDK for a catch behind wicket but umpire wasn’t interested.

Punjab have picked two quick wickets, and they are right back in this contest now. Murugan Ashwin is the sort of bowler who can pose trouble for the new batsman Yuvraj Singh. Mumbai Indians need a few overs of consolidation here.

OUT! KXIP get 2nd wicket. Suryakumar departs. Murugan Ashwin strikes in his first over. Gives a half-tracker slider as Suryakumar went for a pull shot, missed it and then there was gonna be only one result. He had to leave.

Suryakumar Yadav lbw b Murugan Ashwin 11(6). MI 62/2.

After 6 overs,Mumbai Indians 62/1 ( Quinton de Kock (W) 19 , Suryakumar Yadav 11)

Viljoen draws first blood for KXIP as he removes Rohit, who was looking in great touch but falls after a poor shot choice. An in-angler from Viljoen crashes into his pads as he opts for a cross-bat shot. Given out LBW, decides to not review it but replays show it was missing leg. Suryakumar comes out and starts off with consecutive fours. First through fine and then straight down the pitch. Mandeep puts in a great effort on last ball at fine leg to save a four. Powerplay over.

Punjab pick a wicket against the run of play. Rohit was looking set for a big one here, his wicket inside the powerplay will allow Ashwin’s bowling attack breathe a little easier. The stroke players still keep coming for Mumbai, and Suryakumar Yadav is already off the mark with two glorious boundaries. They can’t afford to lose the momentum here if they want to post a Gayle-proof total.

The first ball was deemed dead?
 

First ball of the first over was deemed a ‘dead ball’. As luck would have it the final ball (7th ball) of the over gave away 4 runs. Just the #KXIP things in this #IPL.

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 30, 2019

FOURS! Suryakumar starts off with two consecutive four! Viljoen goes straight as he flicks him past short fine leg and then drives the next pull pitched ball straight down the ground

OUT ! Big wicket for MI! Rohit gone! The skipper was looking in good touch but missed the in-angler from Viljoen as he went for a cross-bat shot. Decides against reviewing it. 

Rohit lbw b Viljoen 32(18). MI: 51/1.

After 5 overs,Mumbai Indians 50/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 32 , Quinton de Kock (W) 18)

Andre Tye has been called into attack and Rohit has decided to go for fours. An expansive drive over backward point gets him a four, it went really high and Rohit didn’t get the distance on it but the small boundary came to this rescue. Comes out on a back of length ball to cut it through the same area. 50 up for MI!

FOUR! This was super easy on the eyes. Back of the length delivery as Rohit takes a step forward and opens the face of the bat to guide it through backward point

FOUR! Rohit goes for another expansive uppish drive off Tye. Balloons it in the air, doesn’t get the distance but it’s over square fielder and runs down to the ropes

At the end of four overs (and one bonus deliver that Ashwin bowled in his seven-ball opening over), Mumbai Indians are scoring at nine an over without breaking a sweat. These two openers like to play themselves in before really cutting loose. With two overs of Ashwin also out of the way, Mumbai will be keen to capitalise on those middle overs

After 4 overs,Mumbai Indians 35/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 19 , Quinton de Kock (W) 16)

Right-arm pacer Viljoen has been called into attack as he bowls to his fellow South African teammate QDK, who pulls the short ball first up for a double followed by a single each for Rohit and him. De Kock goes behind square for one as Rohit takes a double with a flick to square leg. Good start for the pacer. Seven off the over.

After 3 overs,Mumbai Indians 28/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 16 , Quinton de Kock (W) 12)

QDK decided to attack and opts for a slog-sweep against Ashwin but it was super close to the backward square leg fielder Hardus Viljoen, who put in a great jump but failed to reach the ball. Four collected. Four singles also added.

One over of spin and one over of seam on the pitch and it looks like a belter. The outfield is lightning fast too. Rohit and Quinton will both get a chance to express themselves here with their natural boundary hitting instincts.

FOUR! QDK goes for a slog-sweep against Ashwin. Ball flies in the air but just above Hardus Viljoen at backward square who leaped super high

Slightly odd as R Ashwin finds himself in familiar territory

https://twitter.com/lionsdenkxip/status/1111941069892022272

After 2 overs,Mumbai Indians 20/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 14 , Quinton de Kock (W) 6)

Looks like the previous over had 7 balls. Ashwin and controversies can’t stay far! This over Shami takes the ball and starts off by leaking 13. Goes short against Rohit, who hoicks it to fine leg for a boundary and also crashes the length, outside off delivery through covers for a four.

FOUR! Excellent shot. Length delivery, outside off from Shami as Rohit creams it through cover drive. Can’t bowl him there

Rohit Sharma scored 73 runs from 87 balls against Ravichandran Ashwin in IPL. Ashwin has dismissed him once so far.

FOUR! Shami comes into attack and goes short against Rohit. Bad choice as he swings it over fine leg to get his first boundary

After 1 overs,Mumbai Indians 7/0 ( Rohit Sharma (C) 2 , Quinton de Kock (W) 5)

It’s captain vs skipper battle first up with Ashwin opening the bowling against Rohit. MI batsman goes for an expansive drive first ball but straight to backward point fielder. A dab to off and a single on next ball. QDK collects one with a flick to mid-wicket. Followed by a mix-up, direct hit by Miller on bowler’s end and finally a single through overthrow. QDK finishes the over with a late cut four through third man. Seven off the over.

FOUR! First boundary of the match comes in the first over itself. QDK waits for the ball from Ashwin as he dabs it gently with a late cut to place it through third man gap

Here we go!

Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma are at the crease for Mumbai Indians. Skipper Rohit will take the strike to get Mumbai Indians’ innings underway. R Ashwin to bowl the first over for Kings XI Punjab.

Umpires are making their way to the pitch. KXIP players are already there waiting for MI openers.

It’s a small stadium in Mohali with a flat pitch. We are expecting a lot of runs!

At Mohali in IPL:

KXIP’s matches in 2018: W, W, W
MI’s last four matches: W, W, W, W

KXIP v MI in IPL:

Matches – 22
KXIP won – 10
MI won – 12

No change for Mumbai Indians. They will be pleased to bat first on a bright and sunny day at Mohali. With Bumrah and Malinga to bowl at the death, they think they will have the edge while defending totals and put the opposition under pressure. It’s not the same hard and true Mohali pitch that it once used to be, but this is still a good batting venue compared to some other tracks we have seen this season. Mumbai need to go big and look to post a total of 180 plus.

Mumbai Indians XI: Quinton de Kock(w), Rohit Sharma(c), Suryakumar Yadav, Yuvraj Singh, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga

Kings XI Punjab  XI: Lokesh Rahul(w), Chris Gayle, Mayank Agarwal, Sarfaraz Khan, David Miller, Mandeep Singh, Hardus Viljoen, Ravichandran Ashwin(c), Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Andrew Tye

Rohit Sharma: We wanted to batted first anyway, so not really fussed. Having said that, we need to play good cricket. We were able to win our last game due to the bowling we had and it’s about putting enough runs on the board for them.

TOSS: Kings XI Punjab skipper R Ashwin wins toss and opts to field first against Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians

Ashwin: We will bowl first. We want to make conditions in the daylight and make use of the easier batting conditions later on when the lights come on.

In 2018, losing close games was a perennial headache for Mumbai Indians. They felt that with a bit of luck in few of those close finishes, the season could have ended differently for them.

In 2019, MI have had their early taste of luck early in the season with that win against RCB in a game that could have gone either way. They will also be pleased with the form of Yuvraj Singh, one of their big ticket purchase this season. The only thing their dressing room needs now is for Quiton de Kock to fire early with a big match winning knock. That will give them the confidence to go all the way this year. We all know once Mumbai Indians are a hard team to beat once they get on that winning roll.

Pitch report: Looks like a magnificent pitch. No dew factor. It will start paying well from the start. 169 is the average score here, says Michael Slater.

Do you know who leads the race for Orange and Purple cap? Who leads the points table?

Here’s the full points table f or the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) along with the current holders of the Orange and Purple Caps.

If Jofra Archer’s searing pace had Jonny Bairstow ducking, David Warner was up to the task and dished out a tennis smash down the ground with utter disdain. The ball rocketed past the non-striker to the long-off fence. Read about the key moments from the SRH vs RR game. Click here to read the article.

Mumbai will look to continue the winning form!

#MI have no worries. If they keep fielding the playing XI that played the last game, they’ll win a lot of games. Just that I’d also like to get Pandya brothers more involved with the bat...bat a tad higher. #KXIPvMI #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 30, 2019

Big game for Punjab

#KXIP desperately searching for the right balance. Playing five proper bowlers but it feels that they’re a bowler short. Two overseas batsmen but are a finisher short. #KXIPvMI #IPL

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 30, 2019

Sunrisers Hyderabad flexed their batting muscles in their first Indian Premier League 2019 home engagement to justify their all-round strength and the pre-tournament assessments. Read G Rajaraman’s take on SRH vs RR match. Click here to read the article.

If Ajinkya Rahane’s risk-appetite in the Powerplay is lower than it can be – and this is not a one-off, it is how he plays – should he be opening the batting at all? Read Snehal Pradhan’s take on Rahane’s batting in T20 cricket. Click here to read the article.

A controversy-laden first two games at their back, Kings XI Punjab will look to exploit familiar conditions in their first home match of the IPL when they take on Mumbai Indians. 

Read the preview of the match.

Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of the Indian Premier League Match 9 between Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians. 

Big game for Ravichandran Ashwin and Co as they look to bounce back after defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders in their last match. Mumbai won their previous game against Royal Challengers Bangalore thanks to some incredible bowling from Jasprit Bumrah. They opened their campaign with a defeat against Chennai Super Kings while Ashwin’s team won their first game against Rajasthan Royals, the match became known for the Mankading incident of Jos Buttler. 

We will get you all the updates from the match so stay tuned!