IPL 2020: COC Predicted Best Playing XI for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 13

Mumbai Indians have won the IPL in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019.

The Mumbai Indians (MI) are the most successful franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history with four titles to their name. Their captain Rohit Sharma changed the fortunes of the team with their maiden title coming in 2013 and then they have won the tournament in 2015, 2017, and 2019.

The defending champions MI always has been proud of its core players which include Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, the Pandya brothers-Hardik and Krunal, and Kieron Pollard. In recent times, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav have also joined that group and they included some new names in the IPL 2020 auction.   

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Unfortunately, they will miss the services of pace spearhead and the highest wicket-taker in IPL history, Lasith Malinga, who has opted out of IPL 2020 due to personal reasons as his father is unwell and he has decided to stay back in Sri Lanka to take care of him.

However, they have enough ammunition in every department and will want to defend their title in the upcoming 13^th edition of the tournament. With that in mind, Team COC presents Predicted Best Playing XI for Mumbai Indians (MI).

Here is the COC Predicted Best Playing XI for Mumbai Indians

QUINTON DE KOCK
M: 50| Runs: 1456| HS: 108| Avg: 30.33| SR: 131.28| 100s: 1| 50s: 10| 6s: 54| 4s: 155

Quinton de Kock was a welcome addition to the MI franchise in 2019 given that they were looking for a wicketkeeper who could bat up the order. They did have Ishan Kishan in their ranks, but his value has come at no.3 instead of opening.

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De Kock adapted to the MI culture quickly and has given them much needed fiery starts at the top. He helped them win the IPL 2019 and the management will be hoping he does the same in the upcoming edition in 2020 as well. He is safe as a church behind the stumps with acrobatics combined with good technique of keeping.

ROHIT SHARMA
M: 188| Runs: 4898| HS: 109*| Avg: 31.60| SR: 130.82| 100s: 1| 50s: 36| 6s: 194| 4s: 431

Rohit Sharma has been a talisman for the MI team given that he has led them to four IPL titles and has led them from the front. Though he has batted at no.3 most of the time for the franchise, this season might see him opening the innings, something he does so well for India in international cricket.

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Sharma is one of the top 5 run-getter in all IPL and his ability to bat through the innings means the MI team can bank on him to take them to a huge score if he stays there as he can play the anchor, while others go berserk around him.

SURYAKUMAR YADAV
M: 85| Runs: 1548| HS: 72| Avg: 28.14| SR: 131.96| 50s: 7| 6s: 47| 4s: 161

Suryakumar Yadav was a revelation last season for the MI franchise, as he opened the innings and gave them huge starts, taking full advantage of the powerplays. Yadav has the ability to play the attacking game both in the air and along the ground. Suryakumar also brings in tremendously well fielding ability to the game and he can be the sheet anchor that MI has been looking for.

ISHAN KISHAN
M: 37| Runs: 695| HS: 62| Avg: 21.06| SR: 130.88| 50s: 3| 6s: 34| 4s: 64

Young Ishan Kishan has shown time and again his ability to go bang-bang in the shortest format of the game, but has been overshadowed by other players. Kishan has been a fiery batsman for them at the top and seemingly has the license to go big irrespective of the situation.

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And he has performed that role brilliantly well, but he needs to bring in some consistency in his game and add some more big scores to justify the faith the management has in him, which might also bring him in contention for national selection as well.  

KIERON POLLARD
M: 148| Runs: 2755| HS: 83| Avg: 28.69| SR: 146.77| 50s: 14| 6s: 176| 4s: 181| Wkts: 56| BB: 4/44

Kieron Pollard has been their get out of the jail card for a decade now. Whenever the franchise has seemed done and dusted, Pollard has managed to bring out his best mostly with the bat, and sometimes even with the ball, and rescued the team.

His experience has also helped Rohit Sharma in decision making on the field and despite being a big man, Pollard is as swift as Jonty Rhodes on the field. His current form in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League is just unbelievable and MI will be hoping that he brings the same good luck to them in the IPL 2020 as well.

HARDIK PANDYA
M: 66| Runs: 1068| HS: 91| Avg: 28.86| SR: 154.78| 50s: 3| 6s: 68| 4s: 72| Wkts: 42| BB: 3/20 | Eco: 9.06

If Pollard has been MI’s get out of the jail card, Hardik Pandya has been their finisher for the past two seasons. He has changed the face of the innings coming in late and hitting valuable runs at the end and adding much-needed padding to the score.

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His bowling may not be that effective given that he is returning from back surgery, but he has picked up important wickets in the middle overs. But his value has been with the bat and sometimes MI has used him as a floater as well, batting up the order to bring some pace into the innings.

KRUNAL PANDYA
M: 55| Runs: 891| HS: 86| Avg: 26.20| SR: 146.06| 50s: 1| 6s: 35| 4s: 86| Wkts: 40| BB: 3/14 | Eco: 7.16

The elder brother of Hardik, Krunal Pandya has justified the faith MI has put in him. He won them the IPL 2017 final with a fine fighting inning and has done the same multiple times. Pandya has the knack of breaking partnerships whenever called up to bowl and is a gun fielder anywhere in the field.  

He along with his brother Hardik forms a deadly combo at the end as finishers as Krunal has the ability to hit big sixes and bring momentum in the MI innings.

NATHAN COULTER-NILE
M: 26| Wkts: 36| BB: 4/20 | Eco: 7.66

Nathan Coulter-Nile returns to the Mumbai Indians franchise and his value is immense given that he can bowl at over 140kph with regularity and has the chops to hit some lusty blows in the end. He recently showed his batting prowess in the 2019 World Cup for Australia and has done the same in IPL as well. A consistent run in the gold and blue will enable MI to give him a chance to showcase his potential to the full.  

RAHUL CHAHAR
M: 16| Wkts: 15| BB: 3/19| Eco: 6.77

Rahul Chahar was a surprise inclusion to the MI attack in the IPL 2019, but he has shown his ability and chops to handle the pressure, as Rohit Sharma often called him to bowl in powerplays. He has done more than well to earn his trust and respect.  It will be exciting to see how the leg-spinner performs as the pitches in UAE will provide him with assistance given their slowness.

JASPRIT BUMRAH
M: 77| Wkts: 82| BB: 3/7| Eco: 7.55

With Lasith Malinga set to miss this edition of the IPL, it’s up to his protégé Jasprit Bumrah to handle the death overs bowling responsibility. He has done it in the past, gaining a huge reputation and has become one of the best exponents of the yorker at will. He will be Rohit’s trump card and is trusted to come good whenever called upon to bowl.  

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TRENT BOULT
M: 33| Wkts: 38| BB: 3/19| Eco: 8.78

Mumbai Indians had to bring in a left-arm pacer in the team and who better than New Zealand’s spearhead Trent Boult who was traded by Delhi Capitals ahead of IPL 2020. Boult has the pace and ability to swing the new ball irrespective of the conditions and will come in handy when MI looks to someone to take advantage of the new ball.