Power batting from Hardik Pandya (40*), and Saurabh Tiwary (45) guided Mumbai Indians (MI) to chase down the target of 136 runs vs Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday. Quinton de Kock also contributed with his 27 runs and in the end, Kieron Pollard (15) played a brilliant cameo with Hardik in a 45-run stand. For Punjab Kings, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi was the most successful bowler with his two wickets. He gave his team two breakthroughs in an over as he removed Rohit Sharma (8) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) on consecutive deliveries. Earlier, while batting first, Punjab Kings have posted 135 runs on the board. Aiden Markram (42) was the top-scorer for the PBKS and he added 61 runs with Deepak Hooda (28) after the side was reduced to 48/4 in the eighth over of the match. Kieron Pollard, who bowled just one over, got two big wickets of KL Rahul and Chris Gayle and in the process, he also completed his 300 wickets in T20s. With this win, Mumbai have jumped to the fifth spot in the points table with 10 points while Punjab Kings are the sixth position.
IPL 2021 Highlights Between Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings, straight from Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
- 22:38 (IST)Eyes On Hardik Pandya!Hardik Pandya has been promoted up the order today at Number 5 ahead of Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya. Mumbai Indians need him to score runs to get their further campaign strong. Hardik has been a prominent part of the Mumbai set up over the years and his form is not only important for Mumbai Indians but also for the Indian team for next month's T20 World Cup. The all-rounder is not bowling already so, MI would want him to fire with the bat and get back in form.
- 22:29 (IST)How India's T20 World Cup Picks Have Fared In The IPL 2021 So FarIshan Kishan was dropped from the Mumbai Indians lineup for their match against Punjab Kings after failing with the bat. Suryakumar Yadav too was short of runs and he got a golden duck against PBKS after failing to read a googly from Ravi Bishnoi. Rahul Chahar got just two wickets in the last four games at an economy rate of more than eight runs per over. Hardik Pandya is not bowling and all these players are also in India's squad for the next month's T20 World Cup that will be played in the UAE. On the other hand, Shreyas Iyer, who has been kept as a reserve in the team is in terrific form since IPL 2021 was resumed. Yuzvendra Chahal, who is India's leading wicket-taker in T20I, was also dropped from the T20 World Cup squad. The leg spinner has been in terrific form with the ball in the UAE. According to rules, all the teams can make changes in their final 15 for next month's marquee tournament till October 10. Virat Kohli and team management would be tempting to tweak their provisional 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup.