IPL 2021: Match 13 - Mumbai Indians (MI) Predicted Playing XI against Delhi Capitals (DC)

Match 13 of the Indian Premier League is the battle between the administrative and the economic capital of the nation. It is a battle of cultures, a repeat of the 2020 IPL Final as the Mumbai Indians lock horns with the Delhi Capitals.

Having gotten a traditional slow start to their campaign, Mumbai has got back to winning ways, eyeing a hat-trick of victories. Their rivals on Tuesday do not have the momentum of two consecutive victories on the trot, but their latest 6-wicket win in a tall chase against the Punjab Kings is enough to keep the morale high.

The Capitals have sandwiched a defeat between two wins, but both their victories have been dominant and less drama. On the other hand, Mumbai has defied odds and scripted sensational comebacks after looking outclassed in periods of play, before magically ending up on the right side twice. Can they trump the Capitals and make it three in three? What should be an ideal XI for that?

Here’s the Predicted Playing XI of Mumbai Indians (MI) for IPL 2021 Match 13:

Openers – Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock

After a slightly rusty 32-ball 43 against Kolkata Knight Riders, Rohit Sharma showed the fluency that he is known for against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, hitting a couple of sixes and as many fours in a 25-ball outing. He slowed down after getting his eyes in and failed to capitalize on another start, although he always is, and will remain, the first-choice opener.

Much like his partner, Quinton de Kock got himself a rollicking start in the previous game but had to hold one end suddenly due to the quick fall of wickets. The scorecard shows his strike rate as 102.56, but what it does not highlight is the situation that followed after a brisk start. If the openers can get the support from the middle-order that has been slightly patchy so far, they will be set for a big score.

Middle-order – Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan

Suryakumar Yadav had raised hopes after he smashed a six and four in a short space of 6 balls in the previous encounter, but he played a harmless delivery straight back to the bowler to end what could have been an exciting knock. He has got a half-century in the season already, which came in a situation when most of the batters struggled to gain momentum. Form, therefore, is not a concern for Yadav at the moment.

The same, though, could not be said about his otherwise promising partner, Ishan Kishan, who has not been able to fire even once in the three games hitherto. He labored his way to 12 runs in a 21-ball inning, which had no boundary. The only time he looked in rhythm was against RCB, when he squandered his start, perishing for 28 off 19.

All-rounders – Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya

The all-rounder trio has not been able to fire in tandem for MI thus far. Although, much to Mumbai’s delight, Kieron Pollard got into his groove in the previous game, smacking three sixes and a four in his 22-ball 35, which also ended the death-over blues for the Indians. Hardik Pandya has not been playing as an all-rounder, given that he has not delivered a single ball, and it does not seem that he will soon. With the bat, his scores have been 13, 5, and 7.

His elder brother, Krunal Pandya, has not had much business with the bat either, and after scores of 7 and 5 in the first two games, he remained unbeaten for a run-a-ball three against SRH. With the ball, though, Krunal has been in constant action and has managed to bag a wicket on each of his three outings.

Bowlers – Adam Milne, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah

MI swapped Marco Jansen with New Zealand speedster Adam Milne in the previous game. Although, the ploy did not pay much with Milne returning with no wickets, giving away runs at an economy of 11 in his three overs.

His countryman Trent Boult was taken to the cleaners by Jonny Bairstow, but he came roaring back into the game, bagging two wickets in the ultimate over and finishing with figures of 3/28, despite having given away 18 runs in his first over.

Jasprit Bumrah, it seemed, was bowling on a different plane. Bagging a solitary wicket might not be an ideal performance for someone of Bumrah’s standard, but when you realize that he did not concede even a single boundary in his four overs, which he bowled at an unreal economy of 3.50, you know why he is the player to go to in the format.

On the other hand, Rahul Chahar has been in the golden touch too. He bagged 4/27 against KKR to turn the game on its head, and he did a similar act against SRH, where he returned with figures of 3/19, taking the credit of inflicting another collapse that turned the game towards his side.