Preview: Mumbai Indians will be optimistic of beating Kolkata for second time this season. Read the preview here.


Ishan Kishan: “I had a chat with Rohit Bhaiya and he said just go there and play. I did that and kept smacking it. This win was very important.”

Rohit Sharma: “As a team we tend to pick up in the month on May but I can only hope we start starting our tournament on a high. We performed like a team today. Ishan Kishan’s knock was the changing point – the ball was stick and it was not easy. To score 140 in the last 10 was magnificent by all the batsmen.”

Karthik: We need to raise our skill levels a bit and believe. I need to stand up as a leader now and make them believe in it too. I think we have the skills to do that.

KKR 108 all out after 18.1 overs

WICKET. Mumbai have won this in a canter. They have won by an amazing 102 runs, their second biggest ever win in the IPL. A huge margin. It will hit KKR’s NRR in a big way. This was KKR’s eighth consecutive loss against MI.

Kuldeep Yadav lbw b KH Pandya 5 (15b)

KKR 106-9 after 17 overs (Curran 10)

WICKET. Curran gone, caught at long on. This is just dragging on now.

T Curran c Duminy b KH Pandya 18 (17b 3x4)

KKR 93-8 after 13.5 overs (Curran 10)

WICKET! Another wicket. Cutting joins the party this time. This is looking really bad for KKR – they just can’t seem to find a way to beat MI.

PP Chawla c Yadav b Cutting 11 (13b 1x4)

KKR 76-7 after 10.2 overs (Curran 0)

WICKET! Proper edge to the keeper, Bumrah got it in the channel and that is all he really needed to do. This game is over.

RK Singh c Ishan Kishan b Bumrah 5 (3b, 1x4)

KKR 67-6 after 9.2 overs (Curran 0, Rinku 0)

WICKET! The KKR innings is in freefall and Hardik has two wickets in two balls. Rana holes out in the deep. This isn’t smart cricket by KKR.

N Rana c Cutting b HH Pandya 21 (19b 2x4 1x6)

KKR 67-5 after 9.1 overs (Rana 21)

WICKET! Another run out. This time Karthik is caught out. Hardik smartly took the bails off the stumps. This is disaster. This defeat is going to hit their NRR hard.

KD Karthik run out (Duminy/Pandya) 5 (3b 1x4 0x6)

KKR 54-4 after 8 overs (Rana 13)

WICKET! Another wicket and this time, the big-hitter Russell is walking back to the pavilion. Hardik gets his man with the slower ball. The ball before the wicket might have done the trick, it was short, fast and Russell had ducked into it.

AD Russell c Markande b HH Pandya 2 (4b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00

KKR 49-3 after 6.4 overs (Rana 10)

WICKET! Scoreboard pressure doing the trick. Uthappa wanting another big hit but instead he gives Markande his wicket by holing out in the deep. KKR need a miracle from this point.

RV Uthappa c Yadav b Markande 14 (13b, 2x6)

KKR 47-2 after 6 overs (Uthappa 13, Rana 9)

Not much to choose between KKR and MI at this stage. But Kishan went nuts after this period. KKR will need to find a way to do the same. Two boundaries in the Hardik over and four dot balls.

KKR 39-2 after 5 overs (Uthappa 13, Rana 1)

One wonderful pull for six by Uthappa and not much else in the over. KKR really don’t have the time to take it easy. Required rate is already 11.47.

KKR 32-2 after 4 overs (Uthappa 7)

RUN OUT! There was no single there but both players were caught ball watching. Lynn responded to the call but then both forgot to communicate. Big wicket for MI, might just the match. Lynn was looking good today. Rana is in next.

CA Lynn run out (Yadav/Pandya) 21 (15b 3x4 1x6)

KKR 25-1 after 3 overs (Lynn 20, Uthappa 1)

Lynn’s strike rate against pace is 180 over the last year. Against spinners, it is 111. Clearly, he likes pace more and that was evident in the last over. A slower was dispatched into the stand and then, with the field spread out, he calmly placed the ball just wide of short fine leg to get another four.

KKR 14-1 after 2 overs (Lynn 9, Uthappa 1)

Krunal into the attack and he got some turn too. This doesn’t look like it is going to be an easy chase. It will need someone to go Kishan-crazy for KKR to even get close to this total. Lynn would be their man for that.

KKR 12-1 after 1 over (Lynn 8, Uthappa 0)

MI got an early wicket but Lynn seems to be getting back into form. The second of his fours was timed well and controlled even better.

KKR 4-1 after 0.2 overs (Lynn 0)

WICKET! Expected line of attack. The first ball was full and Narine thumped it down the wicket for four. The second ball was shorter and faster. Narine still tried to hit through the line and it went nowhere.

SP Narine c KH Pandya b McClenaghan 4 (2b 1x4)

KKR 0-0 after 0 overs (Narine 0, Lynn 0)

All set for the chase to begin. MI have never lost after scoring 200 in the first innings.

MI 210-5 after 20 overs (Krunal 8, Duminy 0)

Another six off the last ball. 22 runs off the last over. Is this too much for KKR to chase down? That said, this is a fast outfield and it did rain sixes. Chawla walking back, looking very disappointed.

MI 204-5 after 19.5 overs (Krunal 2)

First ball, six. Second ball, six. Third ball, four, Fourth ball, dot. Fifth ball, WICKET!

Karthik’s decision to give the last over to Chawla might have just handed the game over to MI. He gambled on the fact that Cutting might not read him but he read him and how! The wicket off the fifth ball, well caught by Russell on the boundary line.

BCJ Cutting c Russell b Chawla 24 (9b 1x4 3x6)

MI 188-5 after 19 overs (Cutting 8, Krunal 2)

One over left in the innings. Prasidh didn’t quite get it right after the wicket. Can KKR stop MI from getting to 200?

MI 178-5 after 18.2 overs (Cutting 1)

WICKET! Rohit’s odd innings comes to an end. He didn’t read the slower ball and was caught well. It is also Prasidh’s first IPL wicket!

RG Sharma c Uthappa b Prasidh Krishna 36 (31b 2x4 1x6)

MI 177-4 after 18 overs (Rohit 36)

WICKET! First ball disappeared for six but Tom came back well after that until another vanished into the stands. Hardik wanted to do the same to the last ball but the full toss was a bit too high and fast. It went nowhere.

H Pandya c Singh b Curran 19 (13b, 2x6)

MI 162-3 after 17 overs (Rohit 35, Hardik 6)

It’s been an odd innings by Rohit. Not in truly good form but he is still there in the middle and a capable of getting MI to 200.

MI 152-3 after 16 overs (Rohit 26, Hardik 5)

The umpire called a no-ball. It wasn’t, it was shown on TV but play went on. One that the lawmakers need to see and sort, should this be allowed to stand especially if the third umpire can see this. Why do they check for no-balls only when a wicket falls. The free-hit went for just one run but still...

MI 144-3 after 14.4 overs (Rohit 24)

WICKET! Narine does the job. He was brought back to break the stand and he did just that. But Kishan’s knock has changed the complexion of this game. The partnership with Rohit was worth 82 off which Rohit got just 18. 62 off 21 for Ishan.

Ishan Kishan c Uthappa b Narine 62 (21b 5x4 6x6)

MI 137-2 after 14 overs (Rohit 23, Kishan 56)

Kishan taking Kuldeep to the cleaner. Three consecutive sixes to get to his 50 off just 17 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes). Then, he followed it up with another six. This is wonderful, wonderful knock – it has come out of nowhere and KKR are reeling at the moment. They have no answer to the man named Kishan.

25 runs off the 14th over. Last 12 balls, 40 runs!

MI 112-2 after 13 overs (Rohit 21, Kishan 32)

Back-to-back boundaries off the third and fourth deliveries seemed to finally kickstart Rohit into action. Kishan, though, has shown no signs of slowing down. He is playing a blinder here.

MI 97-2 after 12 overs (Rohit 12, Kishan 27)

DROPPED! Rana, at backward point, had to take that. You do not give Rohit a life at the Eden Gardens. He has 11 off 14. What a big miss. Have too many catches been going down in this IPL? Almost every match seems to have a drop or two.

A boundary off the last ball by Kishan made it a 11-run over.

MI 86-2 after 11 overs (Rohit 9, Kishan 19)

Kishan has come out playing the big shots and giving this innings a huge boost of momentum. MI needed this, they needed an innings like this. 14 runs from the over – a big one for MI. Russell comes back into the attack and Rohit will like this change of pace.

MI 62-2 after 9 overs (Rohit 6)

WICKET! 3 runs from the first 5 balls and then a wicket. Rinku Singh takes the catch in the deep. Surya throws it away. Ordinary delivery but the pressure before that is what got Chawla the wicket. Strategic timeout and MI need to find a way to get going.

SA Yadav c Singh b Chawla 36 (32b 5x4 1x6)

MI 59-1 after 8 overs (Suryakumar 36, Rohit 4)

The story of the innings so far – KKR bowl a clutch of good balls and then bowl a loose ball which allows MI some breathing space. One loose ball by Kuleep in the over and Surya hit that for four.

MI 51-1 after 7 overs (Suryakumar 29, Rohit 3)

Narine is being superb as usual. The batsmen are unsure of what is coming their way. Just four runs off the over.

MI 47-1 after 6 overs (Suryakumar 28, Rohit 1)

Powerplay overs are done. Decent enough by KKR but they gave away a few too many fours. That eased the pressure on the visitors.

MI 46-1 after 5.4 overs (Suryakumar 28)

WICKET! A full toss to start the over from Chawla. Surya helped himself to four and then the second ball was hit for four and then off the 4th ball, some luck for KKR and Chawla. Inside edge, onto the thigh and then caught by Lynn at short third man.

E Lewis c Lynn b Chawla 18 (13b 3x4)

MI 37-0 after 5 overs (Suryakumar 19, Lewis 18)

DROPPED! Kuldeep fails to hold on to a tough chance from Lewis. Prasidh has the left-hander’s number and perhaps too much pace for the pull shot. That was a wicket KKR needed. Lewis got two runs off the dropped chance too. Chawla into the attack now.

MI 30-0 after 4 overs (Suryakumar 18, Lewis 12)

The average first innings total at Kolkata during this year’s IPL has been 176, so there are runs in the wicket. Another last ball boundary rescued the over for MI – Lewis got that through the infield. Wonderful shot.

MI 24-0 after 3 overs (Suryakumar 17, Lewis 7)

Right now, the batsmen are hitting at length. If it is up there, they are hitting through it. That could mean wickets but for now, MI are up and running. The outfield here is lightning quick, so the bowlers need to bowl to the set field or the runs will pile up very quickly. Narine into the attack next.

MI 13-0 after 2 overs (Suryakumar 12, Lewis 1)

Some swing and some good bounce for the pacers. Prasidh also keeping it steady for KKR. The last ball flew over third man for six and spoiled what was till that point a brilliant over. But Surya wasn’t in control there. At what point will Surya or Lewis decide to go after the bowling? KKR’s strength is their spin arsenal, so you have to go after the pacers. Curran into the attack next.

MI 4-0 after 1 over (Suryakumar 5, Lewis 0)

Russell got the first over and he was on the ball. Just five runs from it. Some swing there too. Can KKR get an early breakthrough today?

07.59 pm: The game is all set to begin and it is a special one for the Mumbai skipper.

07.36 pm: Gill is a huge miss for KKR – he looked like he was in good form but this might allow them to push Narine up the order to open the batting. It was a trick they missed in their last game against MI and it might just work for them this time.

07.31 pm: KKR have won the toss and elected to bowl first. No changes to the MI playing XI while KKR has two changes tonight Shubman Gill is injured and replaced by Rinku, Tom Curran replaces Mitchell Johnson.

MI playing XI: Evin Lewis, Rohit Sharma (C), Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, JP Duminy, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Ben Cutting, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mayank Markande, Jasprit Bumrah.

KKR Playing XI: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Robin Uthappa, Nitish Rana, Dinesh Karthik (w/c), Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, Piyush Chawla, Tom Curran, Prasidh Krishna, Kuldeep Yadav

07.23 pm: KKR’s spinners have been superb at the Eden Gardens – they have collectively taken 21 wickets at their home ground but the big problem for KKR in the recent part has been their inability to get the early breakthrough. In their last six matches, their opponents have had opening partnerships of 54, 116, 59, 67, 48 & 91. In a T20 scenario, that will almost always spell trouble.

Here’s what each team needs to do to book a place in the play-offs.

Sunrisers and Chennai are almost through but everyone else is in the thick of battle.

Kolkata Knight Riders

Played 10, Points: 10

With five wins and as many losses, Kolkata have struggled for consistency. A massive win over Delhi Daredevils has handed them an encouraging run rate of +0.145. The two-time champions have matches lined up against Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals, two teams who are breathing down their neck with eight points.

Losses against both of them will put Karthik’s team in a precarious position of qualification. They need to win at least three wins from their remaining four games.

Despite being in the fourth position, Kolkata are anything but safe - they also have matches against the rampant Hyderabad side and third-placed Punjab.

Remaining games: Mumbai Indians (H), Kings XI Punjab (A), Rajastan Royals (H), Sunrisers Hyderabad (A).

Mumbai Indians

Played 10, Points: 8

Mumbai have been here before. A big win on Wednesday could even help them leapfrog Kolkata and grab fourth spot. Who would have thought they could have been here after the torrid start they endured at the start of the season? Delhi Daredevils or Royal Challengers Bangalore can get to 14 points if they win their remaining fixtures. Fourteen points is where Mumbai will be if they lose one and win the remaining three. Keeping pace with Punjab and Kolkata is crucial for Mumbai for finishing in the top four. Winning all four games should see them through without worrying about other results.

Remaining games: Kolkata Knight Riders (A), Rajasthan Royals (H), Kings XI Punjab (H), Delhi Daredevils (A).

07:15 pm: MI are on a seven-match winning streak against KKR and it will be interesting to see whether KKR can control the slide and get back to their winning ways at home.

Though, even at the Eden Gardens, MI have dominated KKR.

Matches – 8, Kolkata Knight Riders won – 2, Mumbai Indians won – 6

07:00 pm: Good evening folks and welcome to the live blog of the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens. Mumbai are looking for their third win on the trot while Kolkata will look bounce back to winning ways after losing to the same opposition at Wankhede on Sunday by 13 runs.