Live Cricket Score – MI vs RCB, Match 1, IPL 2021: Follow the Action
Match: Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB)
Date: April 9, 2021
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Welcome to the live coverage of Match 1 of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). It’s the start of another exciting season of IPL, and what better way to begin than with two of the most exciting and high-profile teams in the competition!
Mumbai Indians are the defending champions, having won the title for the 5th time in 2020, while RCB will be hoping to finally break their IPL title drought with a squad that looks more dangerous than ever.
Key Details:
- MI will look to continue their dominance with a strong squad led by Rohit Sharma.
- RCB, led by Virat Kohli, will aim to start their season with a victory, with key players like AB de Villiers, Glenn Maxwell, and Kyle Jamieson in the mix.
- Weather: Hot and humid conditions expected in Chennai, with the pitch traditionally providing assistance to spinners as the match progresses.
LIVE SCORE & UPDATES:
- Mumbai Indians: (Batting) – [Runs: x/0], [Wickets: x]
- Royal Challengers Bangalore: (Batting) – [Runs: x/0], [Wickets: x]
Toss and Teams:
- RCB won the toss and elected to bowl first.
- Mumbai Indians (MI) Predicted XI:
- Rohit Sharma (c)
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Ishan Kishan
- Kieron Pollard
- Hardik Pandya
- Krunal Pandya
- Rahul Chahar
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Trent Boult
- Marco Jansen
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Predicted XI:
- Virat Kohli (c)
- Devdutt Padikkal
- AB de Villiers (wk)
- Glenn Maxwell
- Daniel Christian
- Kyle Jamieson
- Shahbaz Ahmed
- Harshal Patel
- Mohammed Siraj
- Yuzvendra Chahal
- Navdeep Saini
Key Battles to Watch:
- Rohit Sharma vs Mohammed Siraj: MI’s captain will be up against RCB’s pacer Mohammed Siraj in the powerplay. Rohit will need to be cautious while Siraj will look to make early breakthroughs.
- Virat Kohli vs Jasprit Bumrah: Virat Kohli will have to counter the precision and pace of MI’s star bowler, Jasprit Bumrah. This is always a thrilling encounter as Kohli looks to anchor RCB’s innings, while Bumrah tries to deliver in the death overs.
- Kieron Pollard vs Yuzvendra Chahal: The match could swing in the middle overs as Pollard, known for his big hitting, takes on the leg-spin of Yuzvendra Chahal. Both are crucial players who can turn the game around in a matter of overs.
What to Expect in This Game:
- Mumbai Indians (MI) Batting Strength: With a strong batting line-up that includes Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, and Ishan Kishan, MI will aim for a big score. The power-hitting prowess of Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya will be key in finishing with a flourish.
- Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Bowling Attack: RCB will rely heavily on their pacers, Kyle Jamieson and Mohammed Siraj, to make early breakthroughs. Yuzvendra Chahal will be key in the middle overs, while Glenn Maxwell and Daniel Christian add to the all-round strength of the team.
- Chennai Pitch: Historically, the MA Chidambaram Stadium pitch assists spinners, and with the match taking place in the heat of April, we might see the pitch slow down and offer some turn as the match progresses. The key will be handling the spin and maintaining wickets in hand for the final attack.
Previous Encounter (2020):
- RCB: 201/3 in 20 overs
- MI: 165/6 in 20 overs
- Result: RCB won by 50 runs in their previous encounter in IPL 2020.
Live Updates:
Stay with us for live scores, ball-by-ball commentary, and key moments from this opening IPL 2021 match between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Final Thoughts:
This match sets the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating IPL season. Mumbai Indians, with their well-balanced team, will look to assert their dominance, while RCB will want to start their campaign with a victory, led by the indomitable Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Both teams have star players, and the contest is expected to be closely contested.
Which team will take the early lead in IPL 2021? Stay with us for all the action as it unfolds!
