Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders IPL, 2024, Full Score Card

OUT! BOWLED'EM! That's it, Mitchell Starc has cleaned things up here for Kolkata and boy, he is pumped up. With adrenaline pumping through his veins, Starc steams in and darts in the yorker right on the middle stump at well over 140 clicks. Gerald Coetzee backs away to open up the off side but there's just too much heat on the ball and it sneaks through to crash into the middle stump. Starc finishes with a four-fer and Kolkata win by 24 runs!

Mitchell Starc gets the perfect wide yorker in this time. Bowled at 140 clicks and right on the popping crease outside off, Jasprit Bumrah jams it down back past the stumps and scampers across for a single.

Jasprit Bumrah is the last man in for Mumbai.

OUT! CAUGHT! Two in two for Mitchell Starc and Kolkata on the cusp of a famous win here. Comes from around the stumps to the left-hander and just misses the yorker by a couple of inches. It is a low full toss, quite hard to get underneath and Piyush Chawla ends up chipping the ball straight to cover where Sunil Narine takes a comfortable catch.

Piyush Chawla is in at number 10.

OUT! CAUGHT! Wow, would you believe it? Not for the first time in the last two games that a full toss has brought a crucial wicket. Mitchell Starc steams in and misses his mark completely with the wide yorker and he serves a juicy full toss instead. Tim David hits it hard and flat and the ball pings off his bat but goes just to the right of long off where Shreyas Iyer takes a very sharp catch and the Mumbai dugout cannot believe it. Is that game over?

SIX! Just the start Mumbai wanted to the over! Fuller in length, angling it into the stumps, Tim David does well to shuffle across and whips it away over deep backward square leg for a maximum.

Mitchell Starc (3-0-26-1) to continue.

Swing and a miss! Hard length outside off stump, Gerald Coetzee with a wild heave across the line but he only connects with thin air.

SIX! BOOM! Gerald Coetzee connects and keeps Mumbai in the game. Short again over middle stump, Gerald Coetzee gets in position and gets on top of the bounce before nailing the pull over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Short of a length and outside off, slapped away through backward point for just a single this time.

Oh, another overthrow and Tim David will be back on strike. Banged in short over the stumps, David pulls it on the bounce to deep mid-wicket and the throw comes in at the keeper's end. Phil Salt gets a bad bounce and the ball goes between his legs as the batters get an extra run.

TWO LEG BYES! Andre Russell bowls a heavy ball on a hard length and angles it in from middle stump. Tim David goes across to the off side to flick it away but misses and gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls away towards fine leg as the keeper chases it down and there's an appeal for LBW which is turned down. Kolkata take the review and there's clearly no bat involved but Ball Tracking shows that the ball would have gone over leg stump.

More than half an appeal for LBW by the bowler but he gets no support from his teammates. Slightly back of a length again on off and middle, sticking in the deck, Tim David looks to heave it leg side but misses and gets hit very high on the pads.

Wow, just 3 off that over and now Mumbai need 43 runs off 18 balls. Starc takes pace off and bowls it on a shortish length outside off, getting it to grip a bit as well. Gerald Coetzee hops back to guide it away but is beaten past the outside edge.

Another dot ball and the pressure keeps on rising for Mumbai. Full and quick outside off, Gerald Coetzee connects the cover drive once again but hits it straight to the fielder.

Back of a length and around off, Tim David stays deep in the crease and shuffles across before pulling it in front of mid-wicket for just one more. No timing on that one.

A golden dot ball! Banged in a bit short and angled onto middle, doesn't bounce as much and Tim David is hurried while looking to pull and gets hit on the body.

Tim David says no to the second run! Full and outside off, driven brilliantly by Gerald Coetzee wide of long off but Rinku Singh speeds to his left and cuts off the boundary, just the single then.

The call is for two straight away but they won't get it! Comes from around the stumps and angles it in on a good length, trying to nip it away from off stump. Tim David edges it away with soft hands behind point and gets a single.

Mitchell Starc (2-0-23-1) is back into the attack.

Full and around off stump, gets it right in the blockhole, Tim David punches it down to long off for a single.

Oh, overthrows! Bowled into the pitch and outside off stump, Tim David shuffles across the off stump and gets caught on the crease, getting a leading edge in front of cover. They scamper through for one as Shreyas Iyer misses the direct hit at the bowler's end and there's no one backing up which allows David to get an extra run.

Slower one, fuller in length and angled into the legs, Gerald Coetzee clips it away towards the vacant mid-wicket region and turns the strike over.

Strategic Break! This game's not for the weak-hearted for sure. At one time after a huge collapse, Mumbai fans were chewing their nails off, and just at that moment, Suryakumar Yadav unleashed a streak of big strokes by taking calculated risks. He reached to his fifty in no time but just when things were getting back in control for Mumbai, they have lost Suryakumar Yadav on 56. Mumbai is still in the hunt for 50 more runs in 27 deliveries with Tim David the only recognised batter. While Piyush Chawla and Gerald Coetzee have the ability to strike a few lusty blows, the onus lies on how they finish this game.

OUT! CAUGHT! What a moment in the game, one that could seal the game for Kolkata, and Suryakumar Yadav is heartbroken. Andre Russell steams in and looks to bowl another yorker straight at the stumps but ends up serving a juicy full toss. SKY isn't quite ready for it and just tries to whip it away but gets it high on the bat and the ball goes a long way up in the air towards fine leg. The keeper, Phil Salt runs back and the man in the deep also comes charging in but does hear the keeper calling for it and Salt hangs on to the swirling ball. Yadav walks back after a fine knock and Russell gets the big fish.

Top delivery! Full and straight, right in the blockhole, Suryakumar Yadav looks to shuffle across but has to adjust and blocks it out in front of covers.

Hits the deck hard and bowls it over off stump, Tim David stands tall and works it away in front of mid-wicket for a single. They look for two but won't get it.

Goes fuller in length, on the fourth stump outside off, Suryakumar Yadav drives it straight to covers to end the over. 51 runs needed off the last 30 deliveries.

Pushes it through slower and on off, keeps the length short, Suryakumar Yadav waits for it and drives it through cover-point firmly for a couple of more runs. Excellent running.

Short in length, just around off, Tim David rocks back and punches it along the ground to long off for an easy single.

Shade short in length, on off, Tim David waits for the ball come at him and cuts it well and through the diving point fielder for a brace.

Fuller in length, way outside off enticing him to make a mistake. Tim David reaches to it and drives it towards covers off the inside half of the willow.

FOUR! A little bit of luck and David will take it with both hands! Quicker and outside off on a length, Tim David gets it off the thickish outside edge that just goes past the vacant first slip region for a boundary.

FOUR! The fielders are getting a bit irrelevant at the moment! Not that short but short enough on off for Suryakumar Yadav to employ the pull shot once again. He gets it correct once more and through square leg for another cracking four.

FOUR! SHOT! SKY GETS HIS 24th FIFTY IN THE INDIAN T20 LEAGUE! Short in length, angling into the batter, Suryakumar Yadav stays inside the crease and pulls it well along the ground through square leg for a boundary.

SIX! He has picked the bones out of it! Misses the yorker and offers a juicy full toss on the middle, Suryakumar Yadav clears his front leg and hoists it over long off for a maximum. 100 up for Mumbai and now they are up and running.

Uh, oh! A front foot No Ball from Arora and Suryakumar Yadav would want to make the most out of it. Full toss angling into the stumps. Suryakumar Yadav pushes it to cover. Free Hit to follow.

FOUR! This time he goes over the circle and gets the reward! Not an ideal length to bowl with the third man inside the circle. Short, and on off, Suryakumar Yadav climbs on the ball by hopping from the crease and guides it over the short third for a boundary on a single bounce.

Short, just outside off, Suryakumar Yadav covers his off stump and tries to get it through short third but finds the fielder.

Over the wicket, short in length, outside off, Tim David pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Nice shot! Flighted delivery around the off-stump line at 89.5 kph. Tim David sits down on one knee and sweeps it along the ground towards deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Almost a half-tracker at the stumps. Tim David stands tall and punches it down to long on for a single. Narine is a bit late to react and fails to stop it in his follow-through

Good-length delivery spinning into the stumps, Tim David tucks across to short mid-wicket.

Drags the length back at the stumps, Suryakumar Yadav tucks across to long on for a single

Full and around off-stump line, Suryakumar Yadav pushes it to mid-off for none.

Full in length, in front of the woods, Suryakumar Yadav flicks it through mid-wicket and looks to bisect the two converging fielders from long on and deep square leg. Venkatesh Iyer from long on puts in a timely slide and saves a couple of runs just ahead of the ropes and manages to keep the ball inside of the fence.

Full and at the middle stump. Suryakumar Yadav drills it off the toe end of the bat down to long on for a single.

Full-length delivery on the middle and leg stump line. Suryakumar flicks it to the deep square leg region and the fielder in the deep does well to slide across and saves two.

SIX! Typical Suryakumar Yadav shot! Good-length delivery, just outside the off and nips in a tad. Suryakumar Yadav shuffles a bit to the off side, and uses his wrists, and whips it over long-leg for a maximum.

Back of a length angling on the leg stump line. David gets inside the line of the ball but misses the flick on the thigh pads for a leg bye.

WIDE! Bumper over the helmet of the batter down the leg side, Tim David ducks underneath it. The Umpire calls for a Wide and Shreyas Iyer sends it upstairs. The replays come in and the ball is clearly above David's head. The original decision of Wide stands and Kolkata burn a review.

Tim David is the next batter in.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! Things are just getting more and more precarious for Mumbai and nothing's going right for the skipper Hardik Pandya. Dre Russ hits the deck hard, on the middle, it skids a bit. Hardik Pandya goes on the back foot and closes the face of the bat pretty early and gets a leading edge that flies high up in the night sky just in front of short mid-wicket where Manish Pandey takes an absolute sitter. He won't drop these dollies and Mumbai going further downhill as the sixth one falls.

On the back of a length, on the top of off, Hardik Pandya punches it off the inside half of the bat straight to covers.

Full, around off, Hardik Pandya drives it inside out along the grass for a single to long off to end another successful over for Kolkata.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Mumbai is in serious trouble now with half of its side back to the sheds. Narine lands this around off on a shade fuller length, Nehal Wadhera rocks back into the crease, and tries for a half-hearted cut shot but inside edges straight into the stumps. Sunil Narine gets his second wicket and Kolkata is in a commanding position now.

Skipper, Hardik Pandya walks in with Mumbai in dire straits.

WIDE! Way down leg on a fuller length, Nehal Wadhera goes for a sweep but misses. Wided.

Slower and fuller on the middle and off channel, Nehal Wadhera leans ahead and drives it straight to covers.

Hides the ball and lands it on off, just fuller in length, Suryakumar Yadav tucks it off the back foot through mid-wicket for one.

Lands on the leg stump line, on a dragged length, Nehal Wadhera tucks it to deep mid-wicket off the back foot for an easy single.

Slightly on off, full in length, Nehal Wadhera strides forward and blocks it to the pitch.

Halt! Andre Russell is down on his follow-through and looks in some pain out there. The physio runs in to check him up. Russell looks fine and play can now continue.

Just a single to end! Slower one around the top of off and Nehal Wadhera gets an inside edge onto the pads as the ball just rolls past the cut strip on the off side. They pick up a quick single but Andre Russell has gone down on the follow-through, hope he is fine.

Too full around off, nailed in the blockhole, Nehal Wadhera bunts the ball back on the bounce to Andre Russell.

NO WIDE! The quick bumper now around leg stump, Nehal Wadhera looks to swivel and pull but is beaten for pace and a wide is signaled. Shreyas Iyer does review it though. The third umpire checks the replays and concludes that the ball is within the body range and not too high either, so, the wide called is revoked.

The slower bumper, bowled around off stump and at the perfect height, Nehal Wadhera has a poke at it but leaves it alone eventually.

FOUR! A rare midfield from Rinku Singh and a welcome boundary for Nehal Wadhera. Short and wide outside off, cut away really hard and to the right of deep point where Rinku overruns the ball and allows the boundary.

Starts off with a shortish ball aimed at the body, Suryakumar Yadav hops back and nudges it through mid-wicket for one. They look for the second run but decide against it.

Andre Russell is introduced into the attack now. He replaces Sunil Narine.

Flatter this time and on a good length on off stump, Nehal Wadhera is late on the cut and edges it down to short third for another dot ball.

Looked like the one that is bowled from the back of the hand and this is bowled quick and a bit full at the stumps. Nehal Wadhera nudges it on the leg side.

Strategic Break! Well, with the departure of Tilak Varma, Mumbai has just lost its rhythm at the moment and finds itself in very deep trouble being 61/4. The top order failed big time to put on a show yet again. Kolkata is right on the top of the game and they just need a couple of more wickets to totally outclass the home side. The spinners, Varun Chakaravarthy and Sunil Narine have troubled the opposition badly, using the slowness of the pitch to perfection. With Suryakumar Yadav still unbeaten and the big hitters to follow next, will Mumbai strike a comeback in this chase? Let's find out.

OUT! CAUGHT! Would you believe it? Just before this ball, you could hear Phil Salt shout from behind the stumps, 'Come on Varun, time for bang, bang again,' and just on cue, the wicket fell. Varun Chakaravarthy comes from around the stumps and just throws it full and wide outside the off stump, enticing the batter to go after it. Tilak Varma does just that and ends up slicing it off the outside edge straight to short third where Sunil Narine takes a simple catch and Kolkata get another wicket at a crucial stage.

Floated up fuller and onto middle stump, Tilak Varma leans right ahead and works it nicely into the gap at mid-wicket for a couple of quick runs. Good running!

Drags it down a bit and angles it onto the pads, this is nudged away behind square leg for an easy single.

FOUR! A rare bad ball and Suryakumar Yadav doesn't let it go unpunished. Short and wide, there to be hit, SKY makes some room and cuts it hard past point for a much-needed boundary.

Pushed through quicker and flatter into the batter, Suryakumar Yadav backs away and punches it down to long on for a single.

Very full and on off stump, dipping as well, Tilak Varma strikes it down to long off for just one more.

Oh, that could have gone anywhere! Floated up full and around off stump, Tilak Varma reaches out to drive but gets a big inside edge onto the pads and the ball lobs up well in front of the keeper though.

Nice and full at the stumps, Suryakumar Yadav plays it off the front foot and hits it down to long on for a run.

Looked like a certain boundary that! Too full and on leg stump, Suryakumar Yadav gets down on one knee and brooms it away wide of short fine leg but Vaibhav Arora sprints to his right from deep backward square leg and dives across to keep it down to a brace.

Immaculate length on middle stump, Suryakumar Yadav gets pushed onto the back foot and this one almost turns away as SKY nudges it towards short fine leg.

Bowled flatter and on a dragged length around middle and leg, Suryakumar Yadav plays it off the back foot down to long on and picks up a single.

Fuller in length and around off, pushed out on the off side and the dots just keep piling up.

Stump-to-stump bowling again from Varun Chakaravarthy and SKY just turns it to the on side for another dot ball.

Oh, just falling short! Nagging length on the stumps, this one stops on the batter, Suryakumar Yadav tries to get on the front foot but gets it right of the face of the bat back towards the bowler who dives forward but the ball bounces well in front.

Bowled from around the stumps to the left-hander and too full outside off, Tilak Varma drives it on the full and towards deep cover for just another single.

Shortens the length and bowls it over off and middle, Suryakumar Yadav presses back and works it away to deep mid-wicket for a single.

On the fuller side on middle and leg, just stopping a bit on the batter, Tilak Varma leans on and manages to tuck it towards mid-wicket. At the end of the Powerplay, Mumbai at 46/3!

Tilak Varma is in at number 5 for Mumbai.

OUT! CAUGHT! Sunil Narine with the big wicket and Rohit Sharma is distraught with himself. Narine shortens the length and bowls it at the batter. Sharma rocks back and gets cramped for room as he tries to force the pull shot over mid-wicket and gets no timing at all. The ball goes up and Manish Pandey takes a few steps back at mid-wicket to gobble it up with both hands. Mumbai in a precarious position here and Kolkata in the driver's seat.

Flights it up a bit more and bowls it on leg stump, Rohit Sharma goes for the slog-sweep but miscues it badly off the inside edge towards short fine leg or another dot ball.

A tad fuller in length on middle stump, Rohit Sharma leans ahead and turns it towards square leg.

Bowled flatter at the stumps, tucked away neatly in front of mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! Sunil Narine gets greeted with a boundary. Short around off, Suryakumar Yadav rocks back and punches it away past a diving Andre Russell at covers for a boundary. That should have been stopped.

On the middle and leg, fuller in length, Suryakumar Yadav flicks it through the right of mid-wicket for a quick single to end the over.

Straight and on off, full in length, Suryakumar Yadav plants his front foot ahead and drives it straight to covers. Shreyas Iyer initially fumbles but manages to recover the ball quickly.

Slightly overpitched on middle, Rohit Sharma drives it inside out through widish mid off and gets a single.

Drifts it on the pads, full in length, Rohit Sharma leans onto the ball and works it straight to mid on.

Very slow, turning on the pads from a length, Suryakumar Yadav flicks it to deep square leg and gets off the mark with a single.

Suryakumar Yadav is the new man in.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Chakaravarthy comes and strikes straightaway! Bowls it from over the wicket and lands it just on off on a shade fuller length, it nips back into the batter. Naman Dhir comes forward and plays down the wrong line, looking to play it across to the leg side which creates a huge gap between his bat and the pad. The ball sneaks through that gap and dismantles the stumps. Mumbai two down now and Kolkata is suddenly in command here.

Hard length, on the top of the middle, Naman Dhir swipes it across the line of the ball towards deep mid-wicket for a single to end the over. 13 runs from this over.

A low full toss outside off, Naman Dhir drives it but finds Ramandeep Singh at covers.

Full and on off, Naman Dhir drives it to mid off and sets off for a quick single. The fielder has a shy at the non-striker's end and the ball rolls to to the mid-wicket region which allows them to cross for the second run.

Yorker on the legs, Rohit Sharma manages it to clip behind square for a single.

SIX! Up and over into the stands. On the back of a length, slightly across off, Rohit Sharma covers the off-pole and plays it on the up and gets it over the deep extra cover for a maximum.

On the back of a length, around off, Rohit Sharma presses ahead and pushes it to covers.

3 WIDES! Swings it down leg on a length. Rohit Sharma misses to flick it and the ball goes to Phil Salt on a single bounce where he misses to collect the ball cleanly. The ball rolls down to the deep fine leg region. Ramandeep Singh fetches the ball just before the ropes. The batters cross for the second in the meatime.

FOUR! Shot! Arora bowls it short and on the top of the middle. Naman Dhir reads the length early, readies himself on the back foot and pulls it neatly over mid-wicket for a boundary to end the over.

Swings back into the batter from the middle to the pads, Naman Dhir goes for another flick but misses and wears on the front pad.

FOUR! Flicked away with sheer authority! Angles it in on the pads, full in length. Naman Dhir takes a step ahead and flicks it over mid-wicket for a cracking boundary.

Oh, this one sharply tails in with the angle on the middle and leg, the length is just around the halfway. Naman Dhir goes for a lifted shot but plays over the line and the ball crashes into his pads.

Hits the deck hard around off at 135 clicks, Naman Dhir punches it firmly off the back foot.

Full, swinging on the pads, Rohit Sharma flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Sprays it ont he pads, on a length. Naman Dhir looks to flick it away but misses. It clips off his thigh pad and carries to Phil Salt behind the wicket. Just for a brief moment, Mitchell Starc thought it tickled off his bat but Shreyas isn't quite convinced to go upstairs.

A full toss tailing into the batter on the middle, Naman Dhir flicks it straight to mid on.

Naman Dhir is in at number 3.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! A quick revenge from Starc as he hits the pegs to perfection! Lands it shade full in length, angling into the left-hander on middle and leg stump line, Ishan Kishan looks to hoist it over the leg side but misses. The ball goes through the huge gap between the pad and the bat to disturb the furniture. A sigh of relief for Mitchell Starc and Kolkata as they get an early breakthrough here.

SIX! In the zone and punished! Pitches on the good length, just on the middle and leg, Ishan Kishan gets underneath it and picks it over deep backward square leg for a biggie. Effortless stuff from Ishan Kishan.

FOUR! On the up and boundary! Hits the deck hard, swings it away from outside off, Ishan Kishan gets on top of it and clears the inner ring over covers for a boundary.

A brief inquiry for LBW but umpire denies it! Cannons on the pads on a fuller length, Ishan Kishan goes to swipe it across the line and gets pinged on the pads.

Mitchell Starc to steam in from the opposite end.

Ends up by bowling an away swinger outside off at 132 clicks, Ishan Kishan gets a thickish outside edge toward deep backward point for just one to end the first over.

Swings inward again on the fuller length, on off, Rohit Sharma tries to go for a big shot and ends up hitting it off the inside half toward deep square leg for one.

Bowls it from the wide of the crease, and gets the ball to swing into the batter on the length, around off, Rohit Sharma reads the ball well and defends it on the front foot.

Swinging away from the southpaw, on a length just outside off, Ishan Kishan drives it through point and cover for a single.

Tailing back in on the back of a length, just on off, Rohit Sharma watches it closely and defends it off the inner half of the bat and the ball rolls to the left of the keeper. They cross for a quick single.

WIDE! Full, and swinging down leg, Rohit Sharma fails to flick but it has been given as a Wide.

On the hard length, at the middle and leg stump line, Ishan Kishan works it to the left of mid-wicket and gets off the mark with a single. And, the towels are already out to dry the ball.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! And yet again, the middle stump has been uprooted courtesy of that toe-crushing yorker from Jasprit Bumrah. Aims the woods and precisely lands the yorker with a pin-point accuracy, on the middle, Venkatesh Iyer shuffles across off to ramp it over short fine but totally miscalculates the length and the ball beats his willow before uprooting the middle stump. Bumrah gets his third wicket and Mumbai restrict Kolkata on an average score.

Darts a full toss on off, Venkatesh Iyer slices it to deep point and denies to run a single. What a sensational last over this is turning out to be for Mumbai.

Almost a knee-length full toss on off, Venkatesh Iyer slams it down the ground behind the bowler and hurries back for the second successfully. Good running and presence of mind from Iyer.

Swing and a miss! Touch full in length, it nips away after pitching on off, Venkatesh Iyer swings but only manages to meet thin air. Excellent death-over bowling from Jasprit Bumrah.

Low full toss, outside off, Venkatesh Iyer gets it off the cue end of the bat to the off side.

Full, outside off, Venkatesh Iyer works it to point where Tilak Varma parries the ball in the deep. Iyer runs for a single to retain the strike.

FOUR! Much needed for Kolkata! Aims at the off-pole on a fuller length, Venkatesh Iyer reverse sweeps it and clears short third for a boundary.

SIX! What a shot! Not the quickest of the short-pitched deliveries, on the stumps, Venkatesh Iyer waits and swings it hard across the line. He pulls it over square leg and the ball just lands on the boundary cushions.

Just around off, on a length, Venkatesh Iyer goes for a switch hit but misses.

Back of a length, outside off, Venkatesh Iyer drives it to Hardik at covers.

Yorker outside off, Venkatesh Iyer hits it straight to Tilak Varma at point.

WIDE! On the back of a length, wide outside off. Iyer lets it go through and the Umpire signals for a Wide.

Vaibhav Arora is the new batter in.

OUT! YOU MISS I HIT! BOWLED'EM! Bumrah hustles from around the wicket and cannons a toe-crushing yorker and lands it just ahead of the base of the off-stump. Mitchell Starc is quite late to bring the bat down in time to jam it and the ball sneaks through, catching the toe end of the bat and bamboozles the furniture in the blink of an eye. This is what Bumrah is renowned for and he gets his second wicket. 50th Indian T20 League wicket for Jasprit Bumrah at Wankhede.

Around the wicket, at 144 clicks, a yorker on the stumps. Mitchell Starc digs it toward Bumrah.

Mitchell Starc is in next.

OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE!  Short of length, outside off, it climbs further after pitching, Ramandeep Singh arches back and goes for an upper cut. Hits it high in the air but doesn't quite get the desired distance and the ball carries towards Gerald Coetzee who comes forward and takes a low catch at deep third.

Short and angled back in sharply from outside off. Ramandeep bends to slice it through the off side but is beaten through to the keeper. Half-hearted appeal from Bumrah is turned down.

Bumrah misses the yorker and bowls a low full toss at the stumps. Ramandeep flicks but straight to short mid-wicket

Over the wicket, on a good length, Ramandeep Singh guides it through the off side and Gerald Coetzee at deep third runs to his right and saves two.

Ramandeep Singh is the new batter in.

OUT! RUN OUT! Oh, dear! The last thing Kolkata expected was a run out and it's Andre Russell who walks back and is absolutely livid! On the stumps, fuller in length, Venkatesh Iyer employs the reverse sweep and gets it off the inside half of the bat straight towards Nuwan Thushara at short third. Venkatesh Iyer first runs a couple of steps but sees the ball too close for a single and goes back. Andre Russell though is already near the popping crease and retreats back to the non-striker's end. Nuwan Thushara throws it to Hardik Pandya and he breaks the stumps. Andre Russell is way, way out by a country mile.

SIX! Go fetch that says Iyer! Balls a half-volley just on the middle and leg, Venkatesh Iyer shuffles a bit and stays leg side of the ball before picking it over cow corner for a maximum.

Takes the pace off the leather, outside off on a length, Andre Russell waits and works it to extra cover for a single.

SIX! Off the mark in style! Way too short in length, on the top of off, Andre Russell climbs on the bounce and ramps it over deep third for a maximum.

OUT! TAKEN! Manish Pandey falls after a brilliant 42 and the skipper Hardik Pandya strikes again for Mumbai. Hits the deck hard and the ball skids as well after pitching on off, Manish Pandey clears his front leg and tries to go big over the fence but doesn't get it off the sweet spot of the willow and the ball lobs up in the air straight towards Dewald Brevis at short covers.

Andre Russell walks out to bat now.

WIDE! Goes further away from the batter and bowls it full. Manish Pandey shoulders arms as the ball passes beyond the tramline. Mumbai opt for a review. The split-screen comes up and the TV umpire confirms that the ball is beyond the reach of Manish Pandey despite him shuffling a bit on off.

SIX! OUTTA HERE! Pitched way outside off on a fuller length, Manish Pandey has to reach it long way to fetch it and just deposits it behind long on for a maximum.

Another great display of pace-off bowling! Rolls his fingers on the leather, and bowls it on a good length, outside off. Venkatesh Iyer again fails to read the variation off the hand and gets beaten. Another boundary-less over.

Sees the batter skipping down the track, Nuwan Thushara slows down the pace and lands it outside off on a fuller length. Venkatesh Iyer wildly swings and misses.

On the middle stump, full in length. Manish Pandey clears his front foot and picks it over mid-wicket for a single.

Wide of off, on a fuller length. Venkatesh Iyer digs it out over point for a single.

Short and slow, wide of off, Manish Pandey waits and aerially picks it, and the ball just lands short of long off for a single. No damage done.

NO BALL! Oopsie! A beamer down leg going over the batter's head. Manish Pandey had to duck underneath it to get away from the line. Ishan Kishan does well to stop it behind the wickets with a dive to his left. Free Hit to follow.

A hard-fought Fifty from Venkatesh Iyer! Brilliant from him! Just outside off on a fuller length, Venkatesh Iyer slashes it through cover-point for a single.

Strategic Break! Despite being 5 down on a paltry 57, Kolkata has made a decent comeback with Venkatesh Iyer and Manish Pandey, the impact sub, forging a resilient stand together. Venkatesh Iyer is inching closer to his fifty but the job's not done yet as Kolkata needs a stronger finish from here. The stage is set and with Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh yet to come, these two will aim to go aggressive. Whereas, Mumbai will be looking to break this partnership as soon as possible. Let's see how the last 5 overs pan out.

Very full at the legs, right in the blockhole at 140 clicks, Venkatesh Iyer flicks it away to deep mid-wicket for another single.

Slower one, bowled well into the pitch and over the stumps, Manish Pandey gets inside the line and pulls it in front of square leg for one more.

Bowled back of a length and well outside off, Manish Pandey goes after it and one hand comes off the handle as the ball is hit in front of covers for a couple of more runs.

An effort ball from Hardik Pandya as he bends his back and bangs in a bumper around off stump, Manish Pandey looks for the ramp again but misses out this time.

Nice and full right at the toes, punched down towards long on for a single by Venkatesh Iyer.

Back of a length over leg stump, Venkatesh Iyer picks it up and hoicks it away in between deep mid-wicket and long on for a couple of quick runs.

Too full, a low full toss in fact and angling back in sharply onto middle stump, Manish Pandey flicks it straight to short mid-wicket and will feel he should have put it away.

Goes full now on off stump at 142 clicks, Venkatesh Iyer toe-ends it to mid off for a quick single.

Back of a length and outside off, dabbed away square on the off side for a single.

SIX! Pure class from Manish Pandey! A quick bumper outside off at 141 clicks, Pandey nonchalantly ramps it over third man for a maximum and all of a sudden, Kolkata are in a pretty decent position.

Hard length around off stump, tapped away in front of covers.

FOUR! Too straight from Jasprit Bumrah and he pays the price. Good length on leg stump and angling it in, Manish Pandey misses the tuck and the ball goes off the thigh pad past the diving keeper to the fine leg fence but it is given as runs and Pandey will take it.

Jasprit Bumrah (1-0-2-0) comes back replacing Gerald Coetzee.

Full and straight at the stumps, Manish Pandey goes across to the off side and swats the low full toss to deep mid-wicket for a single, just 3 off it.

Hard length around the pads, whipped away aerially over mid-wicket and into the deep by Venkatesh Iyer for a single.

Right around the top of off stump, Venkatesh Iyer keeps a compact shape and punches it firmly but straight to mid off.

Fullish length, right around the tramline again, Manish Pandey stays back and hits it square on the off side for a single and brings up the 50-run partnership between these two.

NO WIDE! Slower one, bowled a bit fuller and flirting with the tramline outside off, Manish Pandey comes forward but is well beaten. Called a wide and the keeper, Ishan Kishan immediately reviews it. The Third Umpire checks the replays and concludes that Pandey was at his normal stance but the ball was within his reach as well and the on-field decision is overturned.

On a good length and outside off, Manish Pandey punches it straight to covers.

Hardik Pandya (1-0-14-1) is back. He replaces Piyush Chawla.

SIX! Wow, what a hit from Venkatesh Iyer! On hard length, quick and angled across the off stump, Iyer just comes down the pitch and goes into out slashing it over the cover region for a maximum.

Full and straight at the stumps, knocked down to long on for one more and that brings up the 100 for Kolkata.

Full and outside off, hit away off the toe end of the bat down to long off for a single.

The attempted wide yorker, bowled slower and turns out to be a low full toss. Venkatesh Iyer reaches out and slices it away to the left of backward point where Tilak Varma dives across and gets a good hand on it. The batters do get a couple off runs though.

FOUR! Nicely picked-up and Kolkata making a good comeback here. Back of a length and over middle, Venkatesh Iyer hangs back and pulls it away well in front of square on the leg side for a boundary.

Pitched up on off stump at 138 plus clicks, Manish Pandey stays back and plays a wristy shot that goes straight back down the ground and he picks up a single.

Gerald Coetzee (1-0-9-0) replaces Naman Dhir.

The wrong'un, shorter and turning back in from middle, Manish Pandey goes back in his crease and hits it away in front of mid-wicket for one more.

Top effort from Suryakumar Yadav in the deep! Dragged back on off stump, Venkatesh Iyer charges down the track and drills the ball straight back down the ground but SKY speeds to his left from long on and pounces on the ball to keep it down to just a single.

Fuller in length and outside off, Venkatesh Iyer leans on, opens the bat face and plays it away to Jasprit Bumrah at backward point.

On the shorter side, pushed across the off stump, this is cut away towards backward point.

FOUR! Nicely done! Flatter and quicker but just too straight again, Venkatesh Iyer just gets enough bat on it to tickle the ball fine of short fine leg for a boundary.

Tosses this one up quite full and on the legs, Venkatesh Iyer hits this one away well wide of long on and calls for two right away and gets it with ease as well.

Provides a few more revs on it, lands it on off and full. Venkatesh Iyer gets ahead, and drives it with the spin to long off for a single. Halfway done, Kolkata is struggling with 5 down on 85.

At the stumps, on a fuller length. Manish Pandey steers it to long on for an easy single.

Tossed up from around the wicket, just on off and on a length, Venkatesh Iyer cuts it late towards short third for a quick single.

Slower through the air, just around off. Venkatesh Iyer tucks it with soft hands right in front of deep mid-wicket and scampers back for the second. Good running.

Tossed up on the off-stump line, Manish Pandey drives it nicely along the ground to long on for one.

WIDE! On a length, well outside the tramline of off. Wided.

FOUR! Poor and rightly punished! Half-tracker and a nothing delivery from Naman Dhir, way out of off and on a short length. Manish Pandey uses the width and slaps it through covers for a boundary. No chance for Gerald Coetzee sprinting from the deep point to chase it. Four runs.

Strategic Break! Well, it has been quite a shocker for Kolkata so far who have been brilliant with the bat in general but have just not been at it in this game. Thanks to the Impact Sub option, they have got an extra batter in and with the likes of Andre Russell and Ramandeep Singh still to come, it's not yet over for the visitors. Mumbai on the other hand have stepped up big time with the ball and will look to keep pressing the issue and get a couple of more wickets at the earliest. Let's see how the middle phase pans out.t

On a good length, on middle, Manish Pandey plays it through the vacant mid on region for a single to end the over.

Shade around off on a fuller length, Manish Pandey defends this wrong'un to the left of the bowler.

Tossed up on a fuller length, at the stumps, Venkatesh Iyer skips down the track and works it to widish long on along the carpet for a single.

Slider just outside off, full in length. Venkatesh Iyer cuts it and finds the fielder at point.

Just around off, on a length, Manish Pandey cuts it through point for one.

Slower through the air and on a fuller length around off, Venkatesh Iyer plays it a bit early and chips it from the left of Piyush Chawla for a single towards long on.

Over the wicket now, quicker and flatter, on leg, Manish Pandey steers it to square leg for a brace to end the over.

Tossed up just outside off, on a length, it keeps a touch low on the bounce. Venkatesh Iyer cuts it but cuts it too late and ends up chopping it to Ishan Kishan's left pad and the ball runs to short third. They cross for a single.

Slower now on the fullish length, on off and middle, Manish Pandey chips it with the spin to the right of the non-striker and gets a single at widish long on.

Outside off, flat and quick on a fuller length, Manish Pandey lunges ahead and drives it through covers for a brace.

Aims the stumps, keeps the length shade fuller, Venkatesh Iyer nudges it to square leg for a single.

Flatter and quicker, on a length around off, Manish Pandey punches it off the back foot to long on for a single.

Quicker one, just around off on a length. Venkatesh Iyer goes back and across to pull but inside edges to the front pad to end the over.

A slider drifting across off on a length, Venkatesh Iyer tucks it firmly toward deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Flat and on a good length, around off. Venkatesh Iyer rocks back and pushes it back to Chawla.

Goes fuller and on the off-stump line, Venkatesh Iyer drives it back to the bowler.

Flighted-delivery outside off, full in length, Manish Pandey drives it along the carpet for a single toward deep extra cover.

The fall of wickets has forced Kolkata to bring on an extra batter as the Impact Sub and the veteran, Manish Pandey comes in to replace Angkrish Raghuvanshi.

OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Kolkata is going further down the drain and Rinku Singh falls now. A wrong'un to start with from Chawla. He lands this around off and keeps the length full, it holds a bit on the deck as well. Rinku Singh gets ahead, fails to pick the googly, and just chips it straight back to the bowler off the thickish outside edge. Piyush Chawla takes a regulation catch and sends Rinku packing. Another disappointing outing for Rinku Singh. Half of the Kolkata's side is back to the sheds now.

Full in length and in front of the stumps, Venkatesh Iyer pushes it to the covers. End of the mandatory Powerplay and Kolkata is struggling at 57/4.

FOUR! Swept away! Tossed up, fuller and on middle, Venkatesh Iyer sweeps it through square leg where Piyush Chawla dives but fails to stop and the ball parries to the fence for a boundary.

On the fuller length, tossed up on middle and leg, Rinku Singh works this one to mid-wicket for a single.

Slows a bit more and keeps it full and on off, Rinku Singh drives it to point.

Flighted around off, and full in length, Rinku Singh pushes it back to the bowler.

Around the wicket, full and on middle, Venkatesh Iyer strides ahead and steers it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Naman Dhir has now been handed the ball.

FOUR! Up and over and the 50 comes up for Kolkata as well. Overpitched and well outside off, Rinku Singh is able to just throw his hands at it and the ball gets lofted away over the backward point region for a one-bounce boundary. Expensive over from Pandya, 14 off it but a wicket as well.

Comes from around the wicket now, bowling it short around off and angling it back in, Rinku Singh bends his back and drops the hands to let the ball through to the keeper.

FOUR! Easy pickings! A touch full and down leg, Rinku Singh stays low and just flicks it off the legs into the fine leg fence for a boundary.

Hard length at 141.6 clicks and over middle and leg, Rinku Singh watchfully keeps it out.

Rinku Singh walks in at number 6 for Kolkata.

OUT! TIMBER! Hardik Pandya with the last laugh here and Kolkata are four down inside the first five overs, staggering! Pandya runs in and bends his back a bit more, bowling this one at 139 clicks and on a good length on leg stump, getting it to just nip back in off the deck as well. Sunil Narine makes a bit of room and looks to go big but misses the ball completely and sees his leg stump get knocked out of the ground.

SIX! Sunil Narine wasn't going to stay quiet for long and decided to take on the new bowler right away. This is bowled short and over leg stump, Narine backs away and nails the pull well over deep backward square leg for a biggie.

Hardik Pandya, the skipper of Mumbai brings himself into the attack. He replaces Nuwan Thushara.

Good length around the top of off and just angling back in a bit, Venkatesh Iyer keeps it out off the front foot.

FOUR! Another lovely cover drive and Venkatesh Iyer picks up a second boundary in the over. Pitched up a bit too full and around off stump, Iyer punches it off the front foot through extra cover and picks up four runs.

A short ball now, dug in outside off at 141 clicks and shooting off the deck as well, Venkatesh Iyer looks to hops and cut it over short third but misses.

FOUR! A touch of elegance in that stroke! Tad fuller around off, Venkatesh Iyer plants his front leg across and just strokes it in front of square on the off side for a lovely boundary.

Hard length in and around the stumps, Venkatesh Iyer blocks it off.

Hits the deck hard and bowls it a bit short over leg stump, Sunil Narine backs away and swings it off the inner half of the bat past square leg for a single.

Venkatesh Iyer is in at number 5. Will these two bail out Kolkata from early trouble? Let's find out. Also, a bowling change as Gerald Coetzee replaces Jasprit Bumrah.

OUT! CAUGHT! Oh, dear! Another soft dismissal and Kolkata is in complete disarray here. Nuwan Thushara pitches this one up on the middle and leg, enticing the batter to go at it. Shreyas Iyer looks to just flick it away but is early in his shot and ends up chipping it to the right of mid on where Tim David takes a dolly of a catch and Thusara has three wickets in two overs. Kolkata's top order has been dismantled by Nuwan Thushara and Mumbai is right on top here.

Slightly back of a length and outside off, Shreyas Iyer dabs it down towards backward point.

Length again and right at the stumps, Shreyas Iyer works it off his pads in front of square leg and picks up a couple of more runs.

FOUR! Delicately done by the skipper! Good length around off and skidding on, Shreyas Iyer opens the face of the bat and runs it past short third for a boundary.

The skipper of Kolkata, Shreyas Iyer is in at number 4.

OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the man and Angkrish Raghuvanshi is left dumb-founded there. Nuwan Thushara takes some pace off the ball and bowls it on a hard length, taking the ball away from the off stump. The ball sticks in the surface a bit and Angkrish's feet don't go anywhere and he just pokes at it. The ball goes flat towards short cover where Suryakumar Yadav takes a simple catch. Kolkata is in early trouble here.

SIX! Wrong line again from Nuwan Thushara and Angkrish Raghuvanshi helps himself to another maximum. Too full and angling down the leg side, Angkrish Raghuvanshi picks it up and flicks it high over fine leg for a biggie.

Top stuff from Jasprit Bumrah. Banged in quick and short and at the body, Sunil Narine looks to pull but is hurried and takes a blow to the body.

The big away swinger, bowled on a shorter length and pushed well across the left-hander, Sunil Narine looks to go across the line but is well beaten.

Oh, this is a tricky pitch to start for the batters. Hard length, pushed wide of the off stump and just holding in the deck a bit. Angkrish Raghuvanshi looks to cut but gets an inside edge past the stumps to fine leg for a run.

Good length on the stumps, just straightening a bit, Angkrish Raghuvanshi watchfully plays it out on the off side.

That would have been a sensational run-out had Naman Dhir hit the stumps. Quick and full again outside off, Sunil Narine squeezes the drive square behind point but Dhir dives across and in one smooth motion fires a throw at the keeper's end. The batters scamper across for a run and Angkrish Raghuvanshi is lucky that there wasn't a direct hit.

Almost dragged on first ball! Bumrah speeds in and bowls it very full around off at 139 clicks, Sunil Narine stays deep in the crease and looks to drive it away but gets a big inside edge onto the back leg.

Jasprit Bumrah to operate from the other end.

SIX! That was effortless from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and he ends a memorable first over with a maximum. Nice and full, sliding onto the pads, Angkrish Raghuvanshi just nonchalantly flicks it away and the ball lands flush on the boundary cushion at deep mid-wicket.

Nicely bowled! Slightly fuller and around off stump, staying low and swinging away, Angkrish Raghuvanshi looks to push it out on the off side but gets beaten on the outside edge.

WIDE! Looking for the magical away-swinger from leg stump but spills it down the leg side for another wide.

OUT! CAUGHT! Phil Salt looked a bit edgy and has to depart in the very first over. Nuwan Thushara hits the deck hard over off stump and gets some away movement again, Salt looks to come forward and go across the line but is early again and the ball gets lifted up over the cover-point region. Tilak Varma runs back from the inner ring and calls for it but Naman Dhir coming in from the fence doesn't hear it and has eyes on the ball. Eventually, they collide but Varma manages to grab on to a fine catch.

Angkrish Raghuvanshi is in at number 3.

WIDE! Full and quick, trying to angle it in at the pads but this is spilled down leg for a wide. Good take from Ishan Kishan diving to his left.

FOUR! Slightly tentative again from Phil Salt but it was hit pretty well. Fuller one on off and swinging away, Salt thumps it a bit uppishly and to the right of mid off for the first boundary of the game.

Leg bye! On a hard length around leg stump, this one just skids through and stays low, Sunil Narine tries to clear the front leg and flick it away but gets hit on the pads. The ball rolls past the keeper's right and they get a leg bye.

Uppish but just in the gap! Pitched up to begin with around off, getting to move it away from the right-hander. Phil Salt is early on the front-foot drive and hits it just in front of the man at point and gets off the mark with a single.

All in readiness for this high-octane clash to commence at Wankhede! The two Umpires make their way out to the middle. Mumbai players scatter throughout the field and take their positions. The destructive duo, Sunil Narine and Phil Salt to open for Kolkata. Nuwan Thushara will bowl the first over for Mumbai. Here we go...

Shreyas Iyer, the skipper of Kolkata says that it is all about the small things to be right and backing each other and says that the dew plays a big factor but need to bat well. Adds that the message is pretty clear and every individual in the team knows their roles and is looking forward to a good game. Ends by saying that they are going with the same team.

Hardik Pandya, the captain of Mumbai wins the Toss and elects to BOWL first. He says it's always about playing for pride and also adds it has been a tough season for them. He says it feels good to be back home and looks forward to this exciting game. States it's a fresh wicket and reckons bowling first might be helpful. Informs Naman Dhir replaces Mohammad Nabi in the side.

Impact Players nominated by Kolkata - Anukul Roy, Manish Pandey, KS Bharat, Sherfane Rutherford, Chetan Sakariya.

Kolkata (Unchanged Playing XI) - Phil Salt (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Shreyas Iyer (C), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, Ramandeep Singh, Mitchell Starc, Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakaravarthy.

Impact Players nominated by Mumbai - Rohit Sharma, Shams Mulani, Shivalik Sharma, Dewald Brevis, Romario Shepherd.

Mumbai (Playing XI) - Ishan Kishan (WK), Naman Dhir (In for Mohammad Nabi), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (C), Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Gerald Coetzee, Piyush Chawla, Jasprit Bumrah, Nuwan Thushara.

TOSS - The flip of the coin lands in favor of Hardik Pandya and Mumbai will BOWL first.

PITCH REPORT - Daren Ganga and Michael Clarke are at the pitch. Ganga starts by saying that the conditions are looking pretty great and informs that the dimensions of the ground are 60 meters and 65 meters on both squares whereas 74 meters downtown. Michael Clarke joins him and says it's quite dry but also reckons it has plenty of runs written over it. Also says that spin might come into play due to the dryness. Also informs that there's a covering of grass as you walk up the track. States that the pacers will initially get some bounce with the new ball. Further adds that on asking the groundmen about the pitch, some dew might come into play and says that the toss is extremely crucial.

Kolkata on the other hand have a huge opportunity to close the gap on table-toppers Rajasthan who lost last night against Hyderabad and to do it away at the home of one of their biggest rivals would be a dream come true for the skipper Shreyas Iyer who himself is from Mumbai and knows the ground well. Kolkata is the team in-form but can Mumbai conjure up something spectacular and keep their playoff hopes alive? Or will Kolkata keep matching on? We shall find out. Toss and team news in a bit. Stay tuned.

Mumbai have been a shadow of their dominating best in the last couple of seasons and even with the prodigal son, Hardik Pandya returning to the franchise as captain, it hasn't quite gone their way and they are on the verge of being knocked out of the playoffs race. Wankhede is however a special ground where more often than not, Mumbai pull off miraculous things and the crowd will be hoping for another magical evening but it won't be easy against an opponent that is sitting pretty high up in the table.

India is a vast country and franchises from all parts of the country feature in the Indian T20 League but a West vs East showdown is always special given both parts are generally filled with fans of two particular franchises. Yes, it is Mumbai vs Kolkata at the Wankhede Stadium in Match 51, and on that note, welcome to the coverage. Kolkata have not won against Mumbai at this venue since 2012 and have just 1 win in 10 matches against the hosts here. This is one stat Mumbai will hope to use in their favor whereas Kolkata will be itching to get that elusive win.

... MATCH DAY ...

Match number 51 of the 2024 Indian T20 League sees one of the tournament's biggest rivalries as Mumbai take on Kolkata at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Two teams who have had contrasting seasons so far and the home side, Mumbai are desperate for a win against an in-form Kolkata side. Mumbai have been fairly erratic this season and have only three wins under their belt from 10 games. With 4 games left and two of them to come against Kolkata, Mumbai will have to win all four and hope that other teams drop points if they are to qualify for the playoff phase of the competition. The opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan which started off so well in the first half of the group stage, seems to have lost its mojo in the second half and Mumbai have been losing early wickets especially with Suryakumar Yadav being very inconsistent since coming back into the team. The middle order has shown a lot of promise with Tilak Varma leading the charge and the likes of Nehal Wadhera, Hardik Pandya and Tim David all contributing to the score more often than not in recent games. The bowling is where the main issue lies with only Jasprit Bumrah showing consistency and he has been at his best but has not found much support from the other end. Only Gerald Coetzee has shown some fight and even when he has been expensive, he has been able to pick up wickets. The spin attack looked a bit under-cooked from the start and the duo of Piyush Chawla and Mohammad Nabi albeit very experienced, just haven't been able to control the middle phase. Moving on to Kolkata, they currently have 12 points from 9 games with six wins to their name and a couple of more wins from their remaining 5 fixtures will in all likelihood seal a playoff berth. Their new opening pair for the season, Phil Salt and Sunil Narine has been nothing short of a revelation and both openers have scored heavily throughout the season with Salt now truly at the top of his game. As the season has gone on, skipper Shreyas Iyer has also found his rhythm and has been prolific in the last few games and with the likes of Andre Russell and Rinku Singh down the order, Kolkata have a scary batting lineup. On the bowling front, Mitchell Starc has proved to be expensive throughout the season but has been amongst the wickets off-late and Sunil Narine has been brilliant as usual. The Indian pace duo of Vaibhav Arora and Harshit Rana have shown great promise but with the latter being banned for this game, a lot will depend on the likes of Starc and Andre Russell on the pace bowling front. Kolkata have the wins under their belt and have a much more settled unit but Mumbai at home can always be a handful no matter who the opponent is and with the West vs East rivalry on the cards, this sure will be an exciting watch. Who are you backing?