IPL 2024: Predicting 3 players who could pick up the most wickets in today's PBKS vs MI match

Thursday is a defining day in the IPL 2024 journies of Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI). After six matches - some close, some one-sided - they have two wins each. Whichever team loses today would risk spiralling down to a point of no return whereas the winner would take a big leap toward the top four.

However, the time has been quite contrasting for both bowling attacks. PBKS' looks stronger and more balanced on paper but their good days haven't been backed up by their batting line-up and bad days have been decisive.

For MI, injuries to Jason Behrendorff and Dilshan Madushanka have had a massive impact on the stability. The fast bowlers have relied too much on Jasprit Bumrah and spinners are yet to have a big say in a match.

Whichever team comes up with the better fix will go ahead. Below, we have tried to predict three bowlers who could make the biggest difference with wickets:

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#3 Arshdeep Singh

PBKS' lead left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh is having a roller-coaster IPL 2024. In the last match in Mullanpar, which is also the venue for Thursday's game, he bowled a spell of 1/45 when most other fast bowlers were quite economical. In the game before that at the same ground, he took 4/29 when most were expensive.

One thing is certain - he is picking up wickets consistently. The Mullanpur pitch has been extremely supportive to pacers, especially those who can use their variations well. If that's the case again, you can expect Arshdeep to inflict some damage at the shaky top and middle orders at MI.

Even historically, he has a good record against the Men in Blue and Gold, picking eight wickets in six matches at an average of 27.

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#2 Kagiso Rabada

Another pacer with a good record against MI is South Africa's Kagiso Rabada with 12 wickets from 11 matches at an average of 28.33. Rabada has enjoyed a good run this season and is coming off a brilliant spell of 2/18 against Rajasthan Royals.

He is yet to go a match wicketless in IPL 2024 and it's the first time he has got onto such a run since his Delhi Capitals days.

Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Tim David have all had a tough time against him in the past and wouldn't want to face him in this form away from home in unfavorable conditions.

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#1 Jasprit Bumrah

It's going to be a tasty battle of pacers and MI's charge would be led by the best in the world. Bumrah has been nothing short of a magician in IPL 2024, so much so that it's hard to find words to describe him anymore. Quite simply, MI wouldn't have had the two wins they have so far this season if it wasn't for him.

This would be his first match in Mullanpur and he'd be looking forward to it. He already has 20 wickets in 15 matches against PBKS at an average of 17.95 - his best against any opponent in the IPL.

PBKS captain Shikhar Dhawan has decent numbers against him but his availability isn't certain and the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, and Liam Livingstone are all good match-ups for Bumrah.