MI vs PBKS pits one of India’s finest white-ball opening batting pairs against each other. Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI) will aim to pick up two points at home, while Shikhar Dhawan’s Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be eyeing consistency, keeping them in the playoffs hunt. The match will be played at Wankhede Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 PM.

Mumbai Indians

MI will rely on its top-order batters, who have been excellent in the last few games. Ishan Kishan has given the franchise quickfire starts in the powerplay. Suryakumar Yadav has rediscovered his form, while Tilak Varma has been a reliable batter in the middle order. All-rounder Cameron Green, too, has been improving after struggling in the first few matches. 

Piyush Chawala has been the most impressive player in the bowling department. He has provided important breakthroughs in the middle overs. The veteran spinner is also the top wicket-taker with seven wickets at an economy of 7.14. Also, Aussie duo Riley Meredith and Jason Behrendorff were impressive in the victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad. 

Punjab Kings

Ahead of the IPL 2023 season, the PBKS batting department received a huge setback after Jonny Bairstow was ruled out. Shikhar Dhawan led from the front with some fine knocks, and the left-handed batter required better support from the rest of the batters. Sikandar Raza proved his worth with a match-winning half-century against Lucknow Super Giants, while Shahrukh Khan, too, lived up to the hype. 

In Arshdeep Singh, Kagiso Rabada, and Sam Curran, PBKS have pacers who can provide early breakthroughs and choke run flow in death overs. On the other hand, the spin duo will be keen to improve their performances, as Rahul Chahar and Harpreet Brar haven’t grabbed wickets consistently. But they have managed to keep the batters at bay.  

MI vs PBKS Head-to-Head Stats

MI has won 15 of the 29 matches played against PBKS in the IPL. 

MI vs PBKS Last 5 Meetings

MI & PBKS IPL 2023 Stats

• Top Run-scorer: Tilak Varma – 214 runs (MI); Shikhar Dhawan – 233 runs (PBKS)
• Most Wickets: Piyush Chawla – 7 wickets (MI); Arshdeep Singh – 9 wickets (PBKS)
• Most Sixes: Tilak Varma – 14 sixes (MI); Simran Singh – 9 sixes (PBKS)

Stats as on April 20, 2023 

MI vs PBKS – Who Will Win?

Analyzing the head-to-head stats between MI and PBKS, one can observe a slight edge in favor of the Mumbai-based franchise. However, it’s worth noting that the Punjab Kings have managed to spring a few surprises in their encounters.

Well, in terms of match prediction, several factors need to be taken into consideration. The form of key players, team balance, and recent performances all play a crucial role in determining the likely outcome of the game. MI is the favorite to pick up two points in the match.