IPL 2020: Match 45, RR vs MI – MI Predicted Playing XI

Even though they missed the services of skipper Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai Indians (MI) did a wonderful job in the last game against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK). By bringing down CSK to 30/6 in just the 7th over, MI got their opposition sweating before they accomplished a clinical 10-wicket victory. With 7 wins in 10 games already, the team has nearly sealed a playoffs spot.

However, they have still got the task of finishing in the top two. Thus, as they gear up to take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in their next game, they will look forward to maintaining the same kind of intensity. MI could make one or two changes to their side as Rohit Sharma is likely to come back in.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for the Mumbai Indians (MI):

Openers (Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk))

Rohit Sharma injured his hamstring during the game against the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) and hence didn’t play the last game. However, the MI skipper is expected to be back in the side for this game. He will have a big role to play facing someone like Jofra Archer against the new ball and nullifying that threat.

Quinton de Kock has been in excellent form in the last four games. He was unbeaten on 46 in the last game and played the second fiddle while Ishan Kishan was going at the other end. The Proteas skipper has been brilliant behind the stumps as well.

Middle Order (Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya)

Suryakumar Yadav will continue to bat at number three for his side. He was good on the field in the last match although he didn’t get a chance to bat. He will look to score some important runs for his team in the middle order.

Ishan Kishan, after that 37-ball 68 in the last match, is likely to be back in the middle order with Rohit Sharma coming back. The explosive batsman will want to maintain the consistency in the last few games of the tournament. Hardik Pandya will be the finisher along with Kieron Pollard. While he hasn’t been bowling, his strike rate with the bat is 161.

All Rounders (Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya)

The KPs – Kieron Pollard and Krunal Pandya will be the two all-rounders in the side. Pollard was brilliant with his captaincy in the last game and hasn’t lost a game in the last 15 T20s as a captain. He also bowled one over in the last game where he conceded just 4 runs. Krunal Pandya, meanwhile, gave away 16 runs in his 3 overs and didn’t pick up any wickets. With just a couple of left-handers in the RR line-up, he will have an important role to play.

Bowlers (Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah)

MI might give one more opportunity to Nathan Coulter-Nile while there continues to be a temptation to bring James Pattinson back in. Coulter-Nile bowled decently in the last game and also can bat. The team will want him to have a good amount of match practice ahead of the playoffs.

Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah were both excellent in the last game. While the left-hander picked up four wickets against CSK, Bumrah accounted for a couple of wickets. Rahul Chahar was also good with the ball and picked up the important wicket of MS Dhoni.