IPL 2024: IPL 2024: Best Bets For The Weekend

This weekend has some as Punjab Kings and the impressive Rajasthan Royals do battle on Saturday. On Sunday, there’s a mammoth battle between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Don’t miss out on our best bets for this weekend’s IPL action.

Punjab vs Rajasthan Royals

Saturday, 13 April at 16:00

Venue: MY Singh International Cricket Stadium.

Punjab Kings got rare away in their previous match, clinching a dramatic penultimate-ball victory while chasing a formidable total of 200 against Gujarat. Their follow-up performance was less successful, as they narrowly lost by two runs to SRH at their home ground in Mullanpur, despite nearly reaching the tough target of 183 with only two batsmen crossing 30 runs.

Even during their victorious 200-run chase, only Shashank Singh managed to score above 40, indicating a strong but uneven team batting effort throughout the season. Punjab holds an impressive average score of 182 this year. However, their bowling has been costly, conceding an average of 9.4 runs per over and often leaving the team with high totals to chase. They have only managed to keep their opponents below 180 runs once this season.

On the other side, Rajasthan Royals also experienced a last-ball thriller, suffering their first loss of the season against Gujarat, who successfully chased down 199 thanks to a standout innings from Shubman Gill. Despite this setback, Rajasthan has been consistently high-scoring, surpassing 180 in four of their five games and chasing down 126 in the other.

Their bowling, however, has been a weak point, taking only 30 out of a possible 50 wickets so far. Moreover, they have struggled in the powerplay, scoring the league’s lowest average at just 45.60, nearly ten runs below the IPL 2024 average for the first six overs. Despite these challenges, Rajasthan have dominated recent matchups with Punjab, scoring at least 185 in each of their last seven head-to-head games.

This is one of the most difficult games to predict this season but I’m confident that Rajasthan Royals will bounce back from their defeat with a win here.

Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings

Sunday, 14 April at 16:00

Venue: Wankhede Stadium.

Mumbai Indians have a commendable 7/4 record against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, suggesting a home-field advantage that often inspires confidence. The stadium’s reputation as a haven for batsmen is well-supported by recent performances, where Mumbai hit 29 sixes in just two games, though these matches involved chasing high totals against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Capitals. Reflecting on the venue’s penchant for runs, the average first innings score has been a robust 194 since 2023, with nearly all games seeing teams score over 180.

Despite their bowlers’ struggles, conceding an average of 11 runs per over, Jasprit Bumrah’s exceptional 5/21 in their last match was a pivotal moment for Mumbai. They will be buoyed by their strong track record at home, winning seven out of their last nine at the Wankhede. Chennai, on their end, will recall their last visit here as a source of motivation, where Jadeja, Rahane, and Gaikwad played crucial roles.

Chennai’s journey to the title last year was fueled by their strong away record, including a victorious final in Ahmedabad. However, this season has been less favourable, especially outside their stronghold at Chepauk, where they’ve maintained a perfect record but struggled in other venues. Their relatively poor start in 2024 has seen them score at a sluggish pace, ranking as one of the league’s slowest teams. The Wankhede’s favourable batting conditions might just be what they need to turn things around.

While their batting has yet to find consistency, Chennai’s bowling has been their silver lining, leading the league in economy. Jadeja, Theekshana, and Rahman continue to excel, maintaining economies under eight runs per over, which will be crucial as Chennai looks to overcome their batting woes and capitalise on the conditions at the Wankhede.

Mumbai Indians will be looking to continue their impressive home form and will back themselves against a decent CSK side. Back Mumbai Indians to win this game.