IPL: Punjab v Bangalore | Mumbai v Rajasthan betting previews, TV channel & tips

TV: BT Sport ESPN & Star Gold, 3.30pm Saturday

Kings XI Punjab v Royal Challengers Bangalore
Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Mohali

Royal Challengers Bangalore have lost their first six matches of the IPL season and their dismal away form doesn't bode well for the trip to Kings XI Punjab.

Bangalore were bowled out for 70 in Chennai before a 118-run thumping in Hyderabad and a seven-wicket defeat in Jaipur against a Rajasthan side who have lost their other five games this term.

Virat Kohli's men followed that loss to the Royals with home defeats against Kolkata and Delhi while opponents Punjab have won three out of three at their Mohali base this season.

A couple of in-form Kings XI stars look value in the man-of-the-match market with opener Lokesh Rahul starting to purr at the top of the order. Rahul failed in his first two knocks of the season but his last five scores have been 71 not out, 15, 55, 71 not out and an unbeaten 100 in a losing cause against Mumbai last time out.

Fast bowler Mohammed Shami was also unlucky to end up on the losing side in Mumbai, claiming 3-21 off four overs, and he has taken five wickets in three games in Mohali, including the big scalps of Delhi's Rishabh Pant and Mumbai pair Quinton de Kock and Hardik Pandya.

Recommendations
L Rahul to be man of the match
1pt 10-1 Betway
M Shami to be man of the match
1pt 22-1 bet365, Betway

BT Sport ESPN & Star Gold, 11.30am Saturday

Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

Kieron Pollard's astonishing innings of 83 off 31 balls powered Mumbai Indians to a dramatic victory over Punjab last time out and they face a Rajasthan Royals side reeling after a final-ball defeat to Chennai on Thursday.

Ben Stokes conceded 21 runs in the 20th over as Rajasthan slipped to a fifth defeat in six games and too many of the Royals' big players are underperforming.

Their batsmen have hit only 26 sixes in six matches – Mumbai's Pollard has cleared the ropes 14 times in his last two innings – but Jofra Archer at least gives their bowling attack some bite.

Archer is enhancing his claims for an England World Cup call-up with his artful changes of pace and well-directed yorkers.

In two games against leaders Chennai he returned figures of 3-36 from eight overs and he should trouble a Mumbai side whose shot selection has been far from perfect this season.

Recommendation
J Archer top Rajasthan Royals wicket-taker
2pts 3-1 bet365, Hills, RedZone

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