MI vs PBKS Match Prediction: Who will win today’s IPL 2026 match between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings?

Mumbai Indians will be hoping to return to winning ways in the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) as they take on Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings in match 24 on Thursday. Hardik Pandya and co. are languishing at the 9th spot on the points table, having won just one out of four games. They won their tournament opener against KKR but have suffered three back-to-back defeats since then. With Rohit Sharma all set to miss the contest, the five-time champions will be forced to rejig their line-up – a tough task indeed.

Meanwhile, Punjab Kings will be aiming to go on the top of the points table by taking down MI in their home ground. Shreyas Iyer and co. are yet to face a defeat in IPL 2026, having won 3 out of 4 matches played, while their contest against KKR was unfortunately washed out.

MI vs PBKS Head-to-Head Record

The rivalry remains one of the most competitive in the league:

• Matches Played: 34
• Mumbai Indians Won: 17
• Punjab Kings Won: 17
• Recent Form: PBKS have won 6 of the last 10 encounters.

Predicted Playing XIs

Mumbai Indians (MI)

MI might be forced into a change at the top if Rohit Sharma isn’t cleared by the medical team. Danish Malewar or Quinton de Kock are the likely replacements.

Ryan Rickleton, Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwani Kumar

Punjab Kings (PBKS)

PBKS are unlikely to tinker much with a winning combination, though they may look to bring in an extra spinner like Harpreet Brar, given the expensive economy of their pacers.

Priyansh Arya, Prabhsimran Singh, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer, Nehal Wadhera, Marcus Stoinis, Shashank Singh, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

Wankhede Stadium Pitch Report

The Wankhede pitch remains a “batter’s paradise.” With short boundaries and a lightning-fast outfield, scores north of 210 are expected. The dew factor will play a significant role in the second innings, making the toss crucial—expect the captain winning the toss to bowl first.

Key Matchups to Watch

• Jasprit Bumrah vs. Priyansh Arya: The master of the yorker against the season’s breakout youngster.
• Suryakumar Yadav vs. Yuzvendra Chahal: A tactical battle between India’s best 360-degree batter and the league’s most successful leg-spinner.

MI vs PBKS Match Prediction: Who will win?

According to Google’s Win Probability, Mumbai Indians hold a 55% edge, likely factoring in the “home advantage” and the urgency of a comeback. However, Punjab’s momentum and MI’s potential loss of Rohit Sharma tip the scales toward the visitors.

Final Verdict: If Rohit Sharma is ruled out, the pressure on MI’s middle order might be too much. Punjab Kings (PBKS) are favorites to maintain their strong run and secure another victory at the Wankhede.

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