PBKS faced Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 at Ahmedabad. The match decided who would meet RCB in the final. Shreyas Iyer won the coin toss for PBKS. He chose to bowl first without any hesitation.
The stadium had dark clouds hanging overhead when play started. The pitch stayed under covers for a long time. These conditions helped Iyer make his smart decision quickly. Weather always plays a big role in cricket matches.
Iyer looked at the sky and made his choice. He wanted his bowlers to use the helpful conditions. The damp pitch would help fast bowlers swing the ball. Early wickets could put pressure on Mumbai Indians batsmen.
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Smart Thinking About Dew Factor
Shreyas Iyer thought about what would happen later too. Dew usually falls on cricket grounds during night games. This moisture makes the ball slippery for bowlers. Batsmen find it much easier to score runs then.
Iyer wanted Punjab Kings to chase the target under lights. His team could take advantage of easier batting conditions. The dew factor often decides close matches in cricket. Smart captains always think about this weather problem.
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The groundsmen prepared Pitch No. 7 for this important match. This pitch usually helps batsmen score lots of runs easily. Cricket experts call such pitches “batter’s paradise” in their language. High scores looked possible from the very beginning.
Murali Kartik and Michael Clarke analyzed the pitch before play. Both experts predicted teams could score over 200 runs. The boundaries measured only 61 meters and 67 meters respectively. These short distances help batsmen hit more sixes.
Both Captains Think Alike
Hardik Pandya agreed with Iyer’s decision after the toss. The Mumbai Indians captain said he would bowl first too. Both leaders understood the pitch and weather conditions perfectly well.
Pandya talked about his team’s preparation after their last match. Mumbai Indians worked hard on their fitness and recovery. The quick schedule gives teams very little rest time.
Team Changes Before Battle
Mumbai Indians made one change to their playing eleven. Reece Topley came in place of Richard Gleeson today. Gleeson had a small injury problem before the match.
PBKS brought back Yuzvendra Chahal into their bowling attack. Chahal’s spin bowling could trouble Mumbai Indians batsmen later. Both teams picked their strongest possible squads for this match.
The winner gets to play RCB in the final. Both teams knew how important this match was. Cricket fans across India watched this exciting contest closely.
