IPL Match 11 | RCBVMI Preview: Onward, Up, One Match at a Time

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After a crucial win in the last contest against Lucknow Supergiants on home soil, the entire MI puzzle came together in spectacular fashion. Rohit Sharma’s return after injury and scoring runs at the top is the biggest positive sign. Ryan Rickelton also supported him well at the other end and was in good form with the bat. Raghu Sharma impressed, especially during the middle overs, restricting the opposition to runs and was rewarded with his first IPL wicket.

We have now reached the business end of the league stage in IPL 2026. Every run, every wicket, every over and most importantly playing a good brand of cricket will decide the fate of Mumbai Indians. With our mission to avenge the Wankhede heartbreak, it is time to get ready for a high voltage reverse fixture.

The equation is simple, there are four matches left and every match should be considered a final. If that happens, with 14 points in our kitty, you’ll never know! One thing the Men in Blue and Gold threads have taught the cricket world over the years is to never let us down when the storm rages on. The message inside the dressing room is simple, keep fighting till the end.

In Raipur, the team that handles the middle overs better with sharp off deliveries, good line and length and yorkers in the death overs is expected to hold the lead throughout this contest. The first six overs of the powerplay will also be important during both innings. Often the focus of headlines is Jasprit Bumrah vs Virat Kohli. At the top, Rohit Sharma is taking support of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s swing and precise movement. Tilak Verma against RCB spinners. With its cool rotation and spin versus clean hitting, TV is likely to play a big and important role as the boundaries are bigger.

When?: 10 May 2026 | 7:30 PM IST

Where?: Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium, Raipur

what to expect: Being a black clay pitch, the surface provides balanced competition. The fast bowlers will get the initial movement and bounce during the first few overs. A considerable amount of dew can be expected in the latter stages of the game, which will make the ball difficult to catch during the second innings. Teams that win the toss often choose to bowl first. The outfield of this particular venue is larger than other grounds, so running between the wickets becomes important. The ball comes well onto the bat, but the timing and placement of the shot is important here rather than just brute power.

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