Aakash Chopra predicts Mumbai Indians' possible playing XI

The three-time IPL Winners and defending champions, Mumbai Indians have had a decent auction. Despite losing out on veteran off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh, Mumbai Indians is happy to welcome back Surya Kumar Yadav, JP Duminy, Aditya Tare and Saurabh Tiwary who represented the franchise in the previous editions. The franchise owned by Nita Ambani also made sure of picking few young uncapped guns who might turn into surprise packages in the future.

Coming into the auction with three retentions – Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, MI managed to buy back Krunal Pandya, Pollard and Siddesh Lad in the auction. Mahela Jayawardene and Nita Ambani succeeded in forming a decent side. Krunal Pandya became the most expensive uncapped player in the history of IPL with Mumbai spending a whopping 8.8 crores in buying him back from RCB.

Mumbai also did well by picking the Bangladesh speedster Mustafizur Rahman as a replacement for Lasith Malinga. The franchise has also signed Australia’s Ben Cutting, Pat Cummins, and Jason Behrendorff who would be playing a key role. Also, Mumbai spurred a massive 6.2 crores on the young wicket-keeping batsman, Ishan Kishan. With the auction done and dusted, its time for all the cricket enthusiasts to guess the team combination. Well, it’s not just the fans, former cricketer and expert Askash Chopra picked his playing XI for the Mumbai Indians.

Here is Aakash’s possible playing XI for the MI:

Chopra seemed pretty confident in Evin Lewis opening the games for the defending champs. Evin Lewis has been a sensation in world cricket. He is arguably one of the most destructive batsmen in the current cricketing circuit. Aakash picked the young Ishan Kishan to partner the left-handed destructive opener from Trinidad and Tobago. H0wever, if Rohit decides to open which depends on a lot of situations, Ishan might bat at three.

The middle order seems pretty much predictable and flexible especially with MI having Surya Kumar Yadav and Pandya brothers who can bat anywhere in the lineup. Aakash’s prediction included Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Pollard, and, Surya Kumar Yadav in the middle order. His bowling line-up included Rahul Chahar – the leg-spinner, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff and Bumrah. Surprisingly, Aakash’s possible XI didn’t have a place for the sensational Bangladeshi pacer, Mustafizur Rahman.

The Possible XI:

Ewin Lewis, Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma (C), Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Pollard, Surya Kumar Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Pat Cummins, Jason Behrendorff, Bumrah.

Here goes #MI's possible playing XI on #AakashVani #IPL Does it match with your XI? pic.twitter.com/L4lNy3eA8c

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 4, 2018