Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings, 36th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Mayank survives ...

At the end of the first over, MI would have had their first wicket. Boult got Mayank to chase one away from the body and got a faint edge. The bowler knew it but no one else heard it. They didn't take a review. In the second over, Suryakumar Yadav dropped Mayank at mid-on.

KXIP 13 for no loss in two overs

Alrighty then, KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal to open. Trent Boult has the ball and here we go ...

MI 176 for 6

Pollard and Coulter-Nile have fired MI to a fighting total. The two hammered 57 off 21 as KXIP were guilty of overdoing the short ball. Pollard smashed 34 off 12 while his partner ends with 24 off 12. This is the fastest 50-run stand in IPL 2020.

Just the finish MI needed and KXIP will be nervous despite their win over RCB. They haven't been finishing well and will need the batsmen to take responsibility and get the job done.

Arshdeep bowls the 18th and ... 6, 6, 1, 4, 4, 1

Big wicket!!

Jordan has dismissed De Kock. Full and on the pads, smashed to deep midwicket and KXIP can now hope to restrict MI to a part score. They are six wickets down and will bank heavily on Pollard for a big finish. How many will they get?

MI 119 for 6

50 for de Kock ...

He smashed the KKR bowlers around and now he's smashing the KXIP bowlers. A four and a six against M Ashwin and then picks up single to get to 50 off 39. His fourth fifty in the last five innings. Trouble for KXIP ...

MI 113 for 4

Bishnoi strikes ...

There's the much-needed wicket for KXIP. Krunal falls trying to hit the legspinner and the 58-run stand has also come to an end. But the trouble starts now for the fielding side. Hardik Pandya has walked out and smashed his first ball for six. Exciting times ahead ...

MI 102 for 4 in 14 overs

10 overs done ...

MI are in the rebuilding phase with both Krunal and de Kock looking to build a platform for Hardik and Pollard. The partnership is now 32 off 29 with both batsman looking comfortable at the crease. MI will still hope to touch at least 180.

MI 70 for 3

End of powerplay - 43 for 3 ...

Three down ...

Ishan Kishan goes now as Arshdeep gets his second. Short and wide and the left-hander has cut it straight to third man. MI wobbling now.

MI 38 for 3

Horror start for Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar have both been dismissed for very little! Arshdeep got the MI captain to attempt a cut shot against a ball that was too close for that shot. He ended up chopping the ball onto his stumps instead. Shami then followed up with Suryakumar's dismissal, who played a very casual uppish flick straight to Murugan Ashwin at mid-wicket.

Toss & Teams: Unchanged MI elect to bat

KXIP are unchanged as well. Rohit believes putting runs on the board will be ideal. KL says KXIP are in that stage of the tournament where toss doesn't matter. They just have to go out and win. Fair enough.

Kings XI Punjab (Playing XI): KL Rahul(w/c), Mayank Agarwal, Chris Gayle, Nicholas Pooran, Glenn Maxwell, Deepak Hooda, Chris Jordan, Murugan Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

What's the pitch like in Dubai?

"Same track as the one used yesterday afternoon. It hasn't changed since RR scored 177 here yesterday, but it looks a little drier. Spinners did a good job yesterday going for about 8 an over in general. Not much turn, but it will turn a little bit today. Be wary of the spinners, but also be wary of the short boundaries on one side, ranging from 61 to 65 meters behind square for the right-hander. No wind around to intervene, but 165-170 should be enough. If you bowl well, you should be alright." - Simon Doull

Pre-match reading

Aayush Puthranwith a detailed preview, where he quotes Vince Lombardi and his famous words: "winning is a habit; unfortunately, so is losing..."

Prelude - MI vs KXIP

The proverbial David v Goliath battle, if the league table is anything to go by. Mumbai Indians, the defending champs, are cruising, swatting aside opponents. KXIP are stuttering and have a task on their hand to even exit that 8th place. But they are breaking this IPL 2020 season into two halves and they've begun the second half with a win over RCB. No reason why they can't make it 2 from 2.

But motivational quotes only take you so far. To do it on the field against Mumbai will present quite a challenge. It's Gayle, Rahul and Agarwal vs Bumrah, NCN and Boult. Forget the standings, aren't you salivating already?