IPL 2018, DD V MI: 5 player battles to look forward to 

#1 Rishabh Pant v Hardik Pandya

Rishabh Pant

The DD wicketkeeper-batsman has had an outstanding season so far and it is Rishabh Pant’s sustained power-hitting that has seen him become one of the IPL’s most dangerous players this year. He has made 630 runs so far at an incredible average of 51.66, but what is even more impressive is his jaw-dropping strike rate of 177.14. Pant is the sort of player who can completely take the game away from the opposition if he gets going and MI would definitely want to get rid of him as soon as they possibly can.

The left-hander has no apparent weakness but in Hardik Pandya, MI have a bowler who has been excellent against left-handed players. The Indian all-rounder is MI’s highest wicket-taker with 18 scalps and he would definitely like to add Pant to his list of wickets today. In the 65 deliveries that he has bowled to left-handers this season, he has only given away 78 runs and taken 5 wickets. This is going to be the battle of the game and one that could ultimately decide the direction of the game.