Perhaps, franchise cricket in the longest format of the game is something that is unprecedented. Given the amount of time that is required for playing a Test match, this might not be a really viable idea. Yet, if there is a situation where different T20 franchisees get to play Test cricket, it will surely be great fun to watch. Usually, all these teams build their squads keeping the 20-over format requirements in mind and so is the case with Mumbai Indians (MI).
They are packed with limited-overs specialists and full of match-winners. However, if these same squads are to play red-ball cricket as well, Mumbai Indians (MI) is one team that could possibly stand out. The Rohit Sharma-led side has got some really high quality four-day or five-day cricket players. If the Mumbai Indians actually play the longest format of the game, they will surely give any team in a world a good run for their money.
Here is how the Playing XI of Mumbai Indians would look like had they played Test cricket:
1. Siddhesh Lad
In the last few seasons of the IPL, Siddhesh Lad has been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) set-up. He is a heavy scorer in domestic cricket and has proved his potential time and again. However, this lad had to wait for ages altogether to make his IPL debut.
After being with the team for five years, he finally got his opportunity in IPL 2019 where he played one game. While he might not fit into MI’s T20 scheme of things, he will surely do if it was Test cricket. He is often Mumbai’s crisis man and is excellent under pressure.
While he plays in the lower middle-order for his Ranji team, he has got good technique and can open the innings as well. He is known for his temperament and steady head. In 52 first-class matches thus far, he scored 3758 runs at an average of 43.7 and also hit 8 centuries.
2. Anmolpreet Singh
At just 21 years of age, Anmolpreet Singh has already made rapid strides in domestic cricket. In a short span of time, he has evolved into being an important player for the Punjab team. While he is yet to make his IPL debut, he promises to be a shining star for the future.
Given that he has been scoring runs heavily in the domestic circuit, he has already got the opportunity to represent India-A. If he continues to maintain the same level of consistency, it wouldn’t be too long before he represents India at the highest level. He has looked good in List-A and First-class cricket and is in the process of establishing himself in the shortest format of the game.
Anmolpreet has featured in 20 first-class games thus far. He scored 1571 runs at an average which is slightly over 58. Furthermore, he has already got 5 centuries and 7 half-centuries. In the 19 List-A games that he played, he scored 800 runs at an impressive strike rate.
3. Suryakumar Yadav
Just after playing one first-class game, Suryakumar Yadav looked so impressive that the Mumbai Indians (MI) bought him in 2011. Since then, he has only gone from strength to strength and has established himself as an important player for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) earlier and Mumbai Indians now. While his aggressive style of play might make you think that he is suited for the shorter formats, he is equally good in red-ball cricket as well.
Suryakumar is quite innovative and is a very important member in the Mumbai Ranji set-up. However, consistency has been his biggest nemesis in the last few years. Time and again, he has blown hot and cold resulting in great disappointment.
However, he is now at an important juncture in his career and could even break into the Indian team if he can work on the consistency factor. Yadav is a fairly experienced first-class cricketer. He has played 72 games thus far and scored 4818 runs at an average of 43. He also hit 12 centuries.
4. Krunal Pandya
At number four in this line-up, it will be Krunal Pandya. For any Test team, this is quite a vital position. The likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have batted for India at his position in recent times. And more so for a side like this where the top-three batsmen are aggressive, it becomes that much more crucial.
Of the resources that the Mumbai Indians have got, Krunal Pandya seems to be the best fit. He is technically sound and has got the temperament to bat for long hours. The southpaw has got a good defensive technique and can adapt to different situations well. Moreover, he doubles up as a handy bowler who bats in the top-order – someone like Shakib Al Hasan for Bangladesh.
In his career so far, Krunal hasn’t played a great deal of first-class cricket. But in the opportunities that he’s got, he proved his potential both with the bat as well as the ball. In three games, he scored 294 runs at an average of 59 and with a good strike rate as well. Moreover, he has got two centuries to his name. With the ball, he picked up 8 wickets.
5. Rohit Sharma (c)
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