IPL 2021: COC presents best playing XI for the Mumbai Indians (MI) for IPL 14

Mumbai Indians have won the IPL in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020.

The IPL 2021 schedule was released by the BCCI which sees the 14^th edition of the Indian Premier League being played across six venues and Ahmedabad hosting the playoffs and the final of the tournament. The IPL 2021 will be played from April 9- May 30.

Five-time and defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will open their account in the first match of the tournament on April 9 against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

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Mumbai Indians had a very successful IPL 2021 auction, as they had to fill spots left by Lasith Malinga, James Pattinson, and other foreign players as well. They had also released the likes of Mitch McClenaghan, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Sherfane Rutherford, Prince Balwant Rai, and Digvijay Deshmukh.

During the IPL 2021 auction, Mumbai Indians bought the following players- Adam Milne (Rs 3.20 crore), Nathan Coulter-Nile (Rs 5.00 crore), Piyush Chawla (Rs 2.40 crore), James Neesham (Rs 50 lakhs), Yudhvir Charak (Rs 20 lakhs), Marco Jansen (Rs 20 lakhs), and Arjun Tendulkar (Rs 20 lakhs).

Mumbai Indians bought back Nathan Coulter-Nile in the IPL 2021 auction to strengthen their bowling attack. 

Keeping in mind the squad of the Mumbai Indians (MI), COC Presents to you the Best Playing XI for their first match of the IPL 2021.

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Mumbai Indians have a pretty settled squad for the past 2-3 years which has netted them two back-to-back IPL titles in 2019 and 2020.

They have one of the best opening partnerships in IPL in captain Rohit Sharma and keeper Quinton de Kock. Both have their own way of attacking, with De Kock being the more risk-taker, while Rohit tending to play through the innings.

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Then comes perhaps the best middle–order in IPL right now with Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, and Krunal Pandya. Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar had lighted up the IPL 2020 with more than 500 and 450 runs each. They took care of the big-hitting as well with Ishan Kishan slamming 30 sixes in the season.

Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, and Krunal Pandya are some of the most devastating batsmen in the league who have taken MI to some of the most intimidating totals in the previous two IPL seasons. Hardik played just as a batsman in the IPL 2020 season and had a strike-rate of 178.98, while Kieron Pollard ended up with a strike-rate of 191.42.

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Krunal Pandya and Rahul Chahar are expected to be the spinners in the playing XI, though they have the option of bringing in the experience of Piyush Chawla in the team, which they had been missing in the past few seasons. As for another all-rounder, if needed, MI can bank on Jimmy Neesham as well.

Trent Boult was a game-changer for Mumbai in IPL 2020 with 25 wickets and he will continue to partner Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball. However, for the third fast bowler, MI will have the choices from Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Milne, Dhawal Kulkarni, Marco Jensen, and Arjun Tendulkar.

COC presents best playing XI for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2021:

Rohit Sharma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Adam Milne