In the IPL 2022 opener, GameBabu expert Manvinder Bisla predicts the Kolkata Knight Riders will prevail against the Mumbai Indians

Up against their bogey team, the sixth-placed KKR, who are coming after a sensational eight-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bangalore, are in search of their fourth win, while Mumbai Indians, who are placed fourth on the table, are seeking to get back to winning ways after losing their previous fixture to Chennai Super Kings by 20 runs.

The head-to-head between these two teams is ridiculously one-sided, with Mumbai Indians winning 22 of the total 28 times they have played against KKR. Meanwhile, at the toss, KKR skipper Eoin Morgan called correctly and opted to bowl.

“Bowling first worked well in the first game. Want to use the same formula. The wicket looks well put together. I think we can’t get complacent; the sport has a funny way of biting you in the backside if you get ahead of yourself. It’s a different challenge here today. The same XI,” Morgan said at the toss.

His counterpart Rohit Sharma, who missed out the previous game due to injury, said: “Feeling good. Anmolpreet Singh who played well first game misses out. That’s the only change. Missed some basics of cricket in the first game. It was not a big target, certain areas we need to focus on. Hopefully, we can execute today.”

Manvinder Bisla predicts KKR to win

Speaking at CricTracker’s Live Show In the Air, Manvinder Bisla said: “Can I not pick both the teams? [laughs]. Both MI and KKR are two quality sides; well-settled teams, but I would go 55-45 in favour of Kolkata because of the kind of start they have got in the second half of the league.”

“They have come good as a team, the bowlers complemented and backed each other well and even the batting unit seemed a lot more settled [against RCB]. Shubman Gill getting back to form is also great news for them. So, I think KKR is marginally ahead of MI” Bisla added.

Playing XI

Kolkata Knight Riders: Shubman Gill, Venkatesh Iyer, Rahul Tripathi, Nitish Rana, Eoin Morgan (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Lockie Ferguson, Prasidh Krishna, Varun Chakravarthy

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Saurabh Tiwary, Krunal Pandya, Adam Milne, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah