‘Mumbai Indians don’t have a backup for Trent Boult’ – Aakash Chopra ahead of IPL 2021 auction

Aakash Chopra, the former Indian cricketer, reckons that the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) pace attack needs to be looked into going into the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The auction is set to take place on February 18 in Chennai, and Chopra feels that the five-time champions of the T20 league don’t have a backup for Trent Boult, the New Zealand fast bowler.

Ahead of the player retention and releases, Rohit Sharma and Co let go, James Pattinson, Nathan Coulter-Nile, and Mitchell McClenaghan. Moreover, Lasith Malinga, the all-time leading wicket-taker in the IPL with 170 scalps, has also announced his retirement from franchise cricket.

“The interesting thing is that the Mumbai Indians have changed their entire fast bowling attack. Malinga has retired, they have let go of Pattinson who was his replacement and they have let Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mitchell McClenaghan also go,” Chopra told on YouTube.

They will need at least two overseas fast bowlers now: Aakash Chopra

Chopra, who played for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) during his playing days, thinks that MI are in dire need of two quality speedsters. Chopra reckons that Mitchell Starc will be an excellent buy, but also said that Mumbai won’t be able to get him due to certain reasons. However, as per him, MI may buy back Coulter-Nile in the auction.

“They will need at least two overseas fast bowlers now after leaving out so many. They don’t have a backup for Boult and have a vacant fast bowler’s spot also. If Mitchell Starc comes for 8-10 crores, then Bumrah and Starc will be a fantastic pair. But I don’t think the Mumbai Indians will be able to acquire Mitchell Starc if he puts his name,” he stated.

“They can buy Pattinson again but he was very cheap, so they probably have someone else in their mind. Kyle Jamieson, Jhye Richardson, Chris Morris, and Sheldon Cottrell are available. I don’t see a very big exciting name. They might take back Nathan Coulter-Nile because he was very expensive,” Chopra added.

MI are the most successful team in the IPL, winning five titles in the last eight seasons. Ever since Rohit took over as the skipper from Ricky Ponting in 2013, MI’s fortunes have changed for the better.