The Mumbai Indians host the Kings Xi Punjab in the second of the two Indian premier League (IPL) games scheduled for Monday. Both teams are on the ascendency and a result for either side will heavily boost their chances of making it to the knockout stages in this tournament.

Mumbai Indians
Vipin Pawar/IPL/SPORTZPICS

Where to Watch Live

Play starts at 3:30pm BST. Live coverage will be available on ITV 4 and ITV 4 HD. Follow the match live, via text updates, on ESPN Cricinfo.

Overview

Mumbai have been in good form lately, winning their last two games against the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bangalore in convincing fashion. Rohit Sharma's side have won five of the eight games played in the tournament and have hit form at the right time to take them into the knockouts.

Their last game ended in a 58 run win over the Royal Challengers Bangalore, where a brilliant performance at the top from Dwayne Smith and Dinesh Karthik at the top, followed by a cameo at the end by Kieron Pollard helped Mumbai post a mammoth score of 194. Sachin Tendulkar is also looking in good form, having scored a quick-fire 23 of only 13 balls to give Mumbai a good start. Their bowling attack put in a good shift, with Dhawan Kulkarni taking three wickets while Harbhajan Singh and Dwayne Smith each contributed with two wickets a piece.

Kings XI Punjab are overwhelming underdogs in this tournament, but have managed to hold their own thus far, with the Kings winning four of the eight games played in the tournament. However, their skipper Adam Gilchrist has been out of form this season, with the skipper failing to make an impact with the bat. The Australian scored a laboured run-a-ball 27 against the Kolkata Knight Riders in their last game which they lost by six wickets.

Their batting order failed to click in a pitch, which was believed to be conducive for batting, succumbing to a score of 149. Azhar Mahmood tried to make a comeback with the ball, taking three wickets, but Manvinder Bisla's unbeaten 51 and important runs in the middle order from Jacques Kallis and Eoin Morgan gave Kolkata, what turned out to be an easy win in the end. Punjab will be keeping their hopes on David Hussey, Mandeep Singh and David Miller to pull them through this game, who have been their best batsman thus far.

Team Guide

Mumbai Indians

  • Last Five (most recent first): W W L L W
  • Last Result: Mumbai Indians beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 58 runs.

Kings XI Punjab

  • Last Five (most recent first): L W W L W
  • Last Result: Kolkata Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab by six wickets.

Team News

Mumbai are expected to field the same side that won against Bangalore. Ricky Ponting is set to keep his place on the bench with Dwayne Bravo an obvious choice ahead of him.

Kings XI Punjab have a difficult decision regarding their captain who has been in poor form thus far. Replacing Gilchrist will make way for either Shaun Marsh or Luke Pomersbach who can have a positive impact on the game. However, Punjab do not have a competent keeper to take up the Australian's position.