MI vs PBKS Prediction: Visitors look overpriced

Mumbai Indians have had a slow start to the new IPL season, losing three of their opening four games, and they face a tough test in their fifth encounter against the unbeaten Punjab Kings on Thursday (15:00 BST, Sky Sports Cricket).

The visitors have won three fixtures and had one rained off, so will be looking to press on and have their eyes on top spot. Below are my MI vs PBKS predictions, supported by team news and match odds.

Cricket Odds

IPL Odds

Team News

Key man Rohit Sharma is a major doubt for Mumbai Indians after retiring hurt against Royal Challengers Bangalore last time out with a hamstring injury. 

England star Will Jacks is set to link up with Mumbai this week but this game may come too soon for him.

Punjab Kings are likely to field a similar team to the one that beat Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday.

MI vs PBKS Odds

Mumbai Indians are 8/11 to win this clash while Punjab Kings are 11/10 to come out on top. 

Suryakumar Yadav is 13/5 to top score for Mumbai in this clash, while Shreyas Iyer is 11/4 to top score for Punjab Kings.

Punjab Kings to Win @ 1/1

Mumbai Indians have failed to fire in the first part of the IPL season and they look in danger of being left behind as they host Punjab Kings.

Teams are being more and more aggressive, and MI seem unable to keep up, as they showed in coming nowhere near chasing Royal Challengers Bangalore’s total of 240 last time out.

Rohit Sharma also went down with an injury in that clash and his absence would be a big blow for the home team.

Mumbai’s big issue has been the ineffectiveness of their pace attack, with arguably the best seamer India has ever produced, Jasprit Bumrah, failing to take a single wicket thus far.

Trent Boult has not been much more effective and without Shardul Thakur’s five wickets, they would be in even more trouble.

Punjab Kings by contrast have shared their 18 scalps around nicely and are fancied as outsiders in this clash.

Ryan Rickleton top Mumbai Indians batter @ 3/1

With Rohit Sharma a major doubt for this clash, the battle to be Mumbai Indians' top scorer looks wide open and Ryan Rickleton may be worth supporting.

The South African has made knocks of 81 and 37 already in this year’s IPL, both on this ground, the Wankhede Stadium, and impressed at the T20 World Cup with 228 runs from his eight appearances.

Rickleton could be the player to take up the mantle for Mumbai in Sharma’s absence and he is a tempting proposition to top score for the home side in this clash.

Cricket betting tips with Betfred Insights.