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IPL 2017, KXIP v MI, preview: Glenn Maxwell’s outfit face another must-win against MI without Lasith Malinga

Mumbai have a slight edge, having won 10 of their 19 completed games against Kings XI. Since 2012, Mumbai have won seven out of 10 meetings

For Kings XI Punjab it is all to play for when they take on table toppers Mumbai Indians in their fortress Wankhade, without Lasith Malinga. KXIP have shown that they can pull up their socks when it is needed. They ousted KKR in a match that always looked KKR’s. Now, they have a more stern test when they take on a team that has put no foot wrong all tournament. Their bowlers have fired along with their batsman. Glenn Maxwell is due for a big one, MI would be hoping they are not the ones. The Pandyas have been special for MI this season. One of them also got selected in the Indian team for the upcoming ICC Champions trophy.

The task will be an uphill one for KXIP as their big international stars are not there, Hashim Amla and David Miller.

Mumbai have a slight edge, having won 10 of their 19 completed games against Kings XI. Since 2012, Mumbai have won seven out of 10 meetings.

Rahul Tewatia will hold the key as he showed that he is special against KKR, who were unable to pick him. Nitish Rana is another player to watch out for as this has been his tournament, he has become somebody from nowhere.

The likely XIs

Mumbai Indians 1 Lendl Simmons, 2 Parthiv Patel (wk), 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Rohit Sharma (capt), 5 Kieron Pollard, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Karn Sharma, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Mitchell McClenaghan, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Jasprit Bumrah

Kings XI Punjab: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Manan Vohra, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Glenn Maxwell (capt), 5 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 6 Axar Patel, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Swapnil Singh, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Sandeep Sharma