Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra predicted the ideal playing XI for the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI).
Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians (MI) is the most successful IPL franchise in the history of the tournament. With five IPL trophies already in their cabinet, the defending champions will look to clinch a record sixth IPL title and become the first team to win the tournament thrice in a row.
IPL is all set to commence from 9th April in India with Mumbai Indians (MI) locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the first match of IPL 14 at Chennai.
With less than 10 days remaining for the first match of Mumbai Indians, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has chosen the ideal playing XI for defending champions.
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Aakash Chopra named MI's top 7 and added that the batting order can be flexible according to the situation.
“Rohit Sharma along with Quinton de Kock, then Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, that makes it the top four. Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard – this makes it seven already. You can move them up and down the batting order,” Aakash Chopra said in a video posted on his YouTube Channel.
Chopra picked four bowlers by starting with Jasprit Bumrah and Rahul Chahar and with Trent Boult being a certain pick, Chopra chose Nathan Coulter-Nile could be the other fast-bowler.
“After the top seven, you only need to pick four more players and you have picked only two overseas till now. In the four you have Bumrah and Rahul Chahar. So, only two are left in which one you can take Trent Boult and along with him you can play Nathan Coulter-Nile if you want or any other player you wish to play,” he said.
Chopra further said that even if MI doesn’t play four overseas players it still would work out for them. He added that the defending champions will be a tough nut to crack for the other teams this time around as well.
“They have a lot of options. If they don’t play four overseas also, it will still work out for this team. They are that kind of aside. So one more time, the Mumbai Indians is going to be the team to watch out for and the team for everyone to beat if you are capable of doing that,” said Aakash Chopra.
Here’s Aakash Chopra’s ideal XI for Mumbai Indians.
Rohit Sharma (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, and Nathan Coulter Nile.
