The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) is leaning towards the business end and matches are coming thick and fast. Match 51 will feature Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders in the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai and the match is slated to begin at 7:30 PM IST.
Ahead of this match, let us quickly look at the match predictions, tips and top players. 
MI vs KKR: Head-to-Head Stats
The two teams have a unique head-to-head record against one another. They have played 32 matches in the history of IPL and the Mumbai-based team have won 23 matches out of them. They have been utterly dominant while the Knight Riders have been victorious on nine occasions. However, when filtered out their last five battles, KKR have had the edge with three wins.
MI vs KKR: Pitch Report
The pitch at the Wankhede Stadium suits the batters and the pacers. The seamers get good bounce and carry and a bit of early movement. However, the white cherry comes onto the bat nicely and the batters can actually score aplenty. The spinners do not get a good help here.
Venue Stats (IPL 2024):
Matches: 113
Matches Won batting first: 52
Matches won batting second: 61
Average first innings total: 170
Highest total: 235/1 by RCB vs MI, in 2015
MI vs KKR: Toss Predictions
The toss-winning skipper may choose to field first at this venue. KKR have favoured chasing totals while MI’s bowling has also not been ever-reliable. Hence, either side may fancy chasing totals with a likely dew factor to come.
MI vs KKR: Match Facts
- KKR’s last win against MI and Wankhede came way back in 2012.
- KKR’s lowest IPL total (67) came against MI in Wankhede in 2008
- Andre Russell’s best bowling figures (5/15) came against MI.
MI vs KKR: Top Batters predictions
Tilak Varma (MI): The left-hander has been in amazing form for the franchise in IPL. He reads the game situation well and can switch gears when needed. Varma is one of the best batters and MI’s top run-getter this season, with three half-centuries under his name. Certainly, he is a bankable option when it comes to batting during the middle overs phase and slog overs.
Phil Salt (KKR): The English batter has been talking to the opposition bowlers early on in the contests. He has been attacking in nature and often capitalizes on the powerplay. Salt has gathered 392 runs from nine matches at an astounding average of 49.0 and a strike rate of 180.65.
MI vs KKR: Top Bowler Predictions
Jasprit Bumrah (MI): The Gujarat-bred pacer is the purple cap holder in the IPL 2024. He has been scintillating with his act and is also the second-most economical bowler in a tournament where most bowlers have been ripped apart by the batters. Bumrah has bagged 14 wickets from ten matches and will look to be super effective across various phases of the game against KKR.
Sunil Narine (KKR): The finger spinner has been more useful with the bat than the ball. But it can only be a myth as Narine’s economy reads 6.86 – the fourth-best in the IPL 2024. Narine has scalped eleven wickets from nine matches and can be lethal when the pitches wear out during the later stages of the tournament.
MI vs KKR: Winner Predictions
The Mumbai Indians desperately need a win to stay alive in the tourney. A loss here means they become the first team to get eliminated from the coveted tournament. The Hardik Pandya-led side are a balanced unit but have lost many close games. However, KKR is a team that they have dominated against and especially in Wankhede. Henceforth, it won’t be shocking to see the Mumbai-based side bounce back with a win against their rivals.
MI vs KKR: Predictions
One can expect to be a high-scoring thriller. 200+ scores are no longer a rare sight in IPL 2024 and it won’t be surprising to see a total over 399.5 (1.85) being piled up including both innings. While both KKR and MI have had their ebbs and flows, the visitors have seen better opening stands in the course of the tournament. Hence, KKR might have the edge with a better opening stand (1.94) than MI. Also, Wankhede is a venue where the pacers get help and tend to extract wickets. So, the game could see over 12.5 (1.77) wickets fall in the due course of the bat and ball contest.
