IPL 2021: Best Predicted Playing XI of Mumbai Indians (MI)

As we all know, the last season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) was one of the most highly competitive ones. The teams had to wait till the last league game to finalize the participants of the playoffs. Adding on, the fans witnessed an extraordinary performance from the players. This meant that every night was full of thrill and joy amidst the pandemic!

Talking about the teams, the most dominant team during the thirteenth edition of the IPL was Mumbai Indians. They had such a powerhouse that even their bench strength was strong enough to form another proper IPL team. Under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, they managed to lift the trophy for the fifth time. Well, no team could challenge them last year.

With a strong batting lineup, the Mumbai Indians camp looks to dominate any bowling attack that comes in its way. Well, it is not only about the batting. Even in the bowling department, they have the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, who can destroy any batting lineup. This year, they have not made any substantial changes.

But, let us have a look at the best starting eleven for the Mumbai Indians:

1. Quinton de Kock (Wicketkeeper)

The South African captain was in stellar form in the IPL last year. De Kock is one of the most exciting wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world right now. Apart from that, he leads the South African cricket team. This left-handed batsman loves to attack the bowlers upfront. This means that the bowlers do not get a chance to settle down!

De Kock has scored 1959 runs in the IPL since 2013. A strike-rate of 133.53 showcases his talent to score quickly and effectively. Adding on, he has scored a hundred in the tournament too! Well, Mumbai has the perfect opening pair in the form of Rohit Sharma and de Kock.

Last year, he played exceptionally well for the Mumbai Indians. He crossed the 500-run mark and ensured that a strike-rate of 140.50 was maintained throughout the tournament. De Kock might find himself as a regular member of the squad. Therefore, he makes it to this list as the opener of the team!

2. Rohit Sharma (Captain)

Rohit Sharma is a modern-day giant in world cricket. After starting his career poorly, he has turned the tables completely. Currently, Sharma has made a name for himself in the history of the IPL as the most successful captain with five trophies. This is the most by any captain in the tournament. Well, Sharma has been the main man for the franchise over the years!

The Hitman, as they call him, is one of the most naturally gifted batsmen in the world. When it comes to the shorter format, there are only a few players who can match Sharma’s ball-striking ability. During his IPL career, Rohit has scored 5230 runs with a healthy strike-rate of 130.61. Adding on, he has the highest score of 109 not out at his very favorite Eden Gardens. 

Even during the thirteenth season, Sharma collected 332 runs with a decent strike-rate of 127.69. This showcases that even after he gets injured, he manages to score fluently. Without any doubt, he is the captain of this team. Therefore, he makes it to this playing eleven!

3. Ishan Kishan

The product of the Under-19 team has been in stellar form. For Mumbai Indians, Ishan Kishan filled the spot of Rohit Sharma easily. Well, it is just a matter of time that he makes it to the national squad! Looking at the last season, it seems like his time is here to leave a mark of authority in the Mumbai Indians lineup. 

Ishan Kishan made it to the IPL arena in 2016. He was a part of the Gujarat Lions who made it to the playoffs. But, lack of opportunities meant that Kishan could only score 42 runs in that season. His string of poor performances continued till the 2019 season. 

Well, 2020 was fruitful for the wicket-keeper batsman. This is mainly because he smashed every opponent and played with freedom. During the thirteenth edition, Kishan scored 516 runs with the highest score of 99. A strike-rate of 145.76 in tough conditions was priceless. Therefore, Ishan Kishan makes it to this playing eleven!

4. Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav made headlines because of his stellar performances during the thirteenth edition of the IPL. Well, he is now the most consistent batsman in this Mumbai Indians lineup. He returned to the Mumbai squad during the 11th season of the IPL. Although they failed to make it to the playoffs, Yadav was consistent throughout the tournament.

He was bought by the MI management for INR 3.2 crores and he used his experience to flourish on the Wankhede pitch. During the 2018 season, he had an impressive strike-rate of 133.33. Later on, he was instrumental during the 2019 season. This is mainly because Yadav scored 424 runs during the tournament.

Last year, Yadav managed to score 480 runs in difficult conditions. Adding on, a strike-rate of 145.01 is spectacular in a tournament like the IPL. Well, when he was overlooked by the selectors, people took to Twitter to criticize Virat Kohli and the Indian team selectors. But it is a matter of time that he makes it to the Indian squad. 

5. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya belongs to that group of players who made it to the national squad because of their stellar performance in the IPL. He has an immense amount of self-belief and this sets him apart from other players. And day by day, he has grown much more mature and handles pressure exceptionally well. Currently, he is the backbone of the all-around department for the Indian side along with Ravindra Jadeja!

It started when Pandya smashed an eighth-ball 21 against the Chennai Super Kings. Because of his quickfire innings, the Mumbai Indians managed to clear the target quite easily. There is no surprise that Pandya has a humongous strike-rate of 159.26. Also, the highest score of 91 is a piece of evidence that he can big innings even after a short batting order collapse. 

Pandya has been an exceptional all-rounder over the years. Although he has been a bit expensive as he has an economy rate of 9.06, he has managed to bowl during the crucial phases of the game. Adding on, Pandya is an exceptional fielder and an integral part of the Mumbai Indians. Therefore he makes it to this squad.

6. Krunal Pandya

Well, Krnual Pandya is another member of this playing eleven who has ensured that he makes it to the national squad. The senior Pandya brother has been sensational for the men in blue as he provides Rohit Sharma a plethora of bowling options. Pandya is never out of the game and he makes sure that he contributes in the field. Well, it looks like Mumbai is still the strongest team this year!

Krunal has scored 1000 runs in his IPL career. Well, the strike-rate of 142.45 showcases his talent with the bat. Adding on, he was the man-of-the-match during the final of the 2017 season of the Indian Premier League. Since 2016, Krunal has been a regular member of the squad. The opportunity provided to Krnual helped him to grow as a cricketer. 

Talking about his bowling, he has taken 46 wickets in his career. Apart from that, Krunal has a healthy economy rate of 7.26, which is priceless in this shortest format of the game. Whenever the bowling unit leaks run, Krunal ensures that he picks up a couple of wickets to slow down the things. Therefore he makes it to this playing eleven. 

7. Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard is a legend of the shortest format. The West Indian all-rounder made a name for himself and his country by performing with both the bat and ball. Pollard has been with the Mumbai Indians since his debut. And whenever the team is in a desperate situation, everyone looks at Pollard to save their day!

Without any doubt, Pollard is the backbone of Mumbai Indians and the team management has immense faith in his ability. As we speak of ability, Pollard has scored 3023 runs with a strike rate of 149.87. Also, he has the highest score of 83, which is exceptional for someone who bats down the order. Well, there are only a few all-rounders who can smash the ball out of the park as Pollard does!

Not only can he demolish any bowling attack, but also, he is an exceptional fielder and nothing can go past him. While his bowling is a bit bland, he can bowl in a couple of overs when needed. He has taken 60 wickets with the best bowling figures of 4/44. Therefore he makes it to this squad. 

8. Rahul Chahar

Rahul Chahar belongs to the group of intelligent leg spinners who made it to the national squad. In 2019, the Mumbai Indians showed confidence in Chahar and allowed him to play 13 of the 16 matches in 2019. In this lineup, Chahar is the lone leg-spinner and can turn the game at any moment. Adding on, he is not the worst tailender by any means!

He has picked up 30 wickets in his short IPL career. Along with that, he has an impressive economy rate of 7.46. This is exceptional as he plays in Mumbai, where the batsmen tend to dominate the bowlers. Therefore, Chahar is an asset to the Indians. 

In 2020, Chahar picked up 15 wickets with an economy rate of 8.16. In the previous season, he picked up 13 wickets with an economy rate of 6.55. For a team that has an excellent bowling lineup, the presence of Chahar is priceless. This year too, the management will be hoping for another good season from Chahar. 

9. Nathan Coulter Nile

Coulter Nile is the first pacer to feature in this list. The Mumbai Indians had to fight an intense bidding war to regain the all-around abilities of Coulter Nile during the 2020 auction. Well, they were successful and he played a supportive role to Bumrah and Boult. This year too, the fans are expecting him to hold on at one end during his bowling. 

The Australian pacer can trouble the batsmen with his pace and steep bouncers. Coulter Nile has been a part of the IPL since 2013. And, apart from his bowling abilities, he can contribute with the bat too! However, with a strong batting lineup, the Mumbai Indians did not require the services of Coulter Nile. This time, he should be picked in the team as he is the best tailender at the moment.

Coulter Nile has picked up 41 wickets in his career. In 2020, he did not pick up any wickets as Bumrah and Boult were doing the damage. Well, he is the best option for them as the third seamer. Therefore they should opt him in the playing eleven. According to us, he will become an integral member of the Mumbai Indians.

10. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah is another player in this squad to make it to the Indian cricket team. No cricketer has made such progress as this man has done. Bumrah has broken every stereotype to become the leader of the Indian bowling attack. He has been very effective across all formats. Adding on, he has five-wicket hauls in South Africa, England, and Australia. 

Well, his first wicket was Virat Kohli in his IPL debut. Since then, he has grown over the years and has been phenomenal. Bumrah’s story signifies the work of Mumbai Indians management. They have been spot-on to recognize raw diamonds and they have provided them the stage! The credit for Bumrah’s rise goes to the Mumbai management. 

If we look at his figures, Bumrah has been at his best since the 2016 IPL season. With an economy rate of 7.41, he has been uprooting the stumps of the batsmen. Adding on, he makes up the destructive bowling pair with Trent Boult. Therefore, it is of no doubt that he makes it to this playing eleven. 

11. Trent Boult

Mumbai Indians had their share of luck when Trent Boult was traded to the Delhi Capitals ahead of the 2020 IPL auction. This was a masterstroke as they found a perfect bowling pair in the form of Bumrah and Boult. He was sensational with the ball for the Mumbai Indians and they demolished the Chennai Super Kings in a league game. Well, they also ensured that they won the final with their top-class bowling performance. 

Boult has taken 63 wickets with an economy rate of 8,53. Last year, he picked up 25 wickets with the best bowling figures of 4/18. An economy rate of 7.97 showcases his dominance over the batsmen. Boult has an average of 18.28 which signifies his ability to put the batsmen under pressure. And, we all know how dangerous he is when the ball is swinging!

Previously, Boult was unable to find his mojo, This was because of the lack of opportunities he got. But when he joined the Mumbai Indians, he managed to make a name for himself. This time too, everyone expects him to trouble the batsmen. Therefore he makes it to this playing eleven!