‘Rohit Sharma is 24-carat-gold, the best-cut diamond’ - Aakash Chopra on MI’s strengths going into IPL 2021

With the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) less than a week away, the former Indian batsman Aakash Chopra carried out a detailed analysis of the defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI). Chopra lavished praises on MI saying that they have one of the most competent and settled line-ups in the league.

Speaking about the strengths of the five-time champions, the renowned commentator reckoned that one of the main highlights of their team is a strong Indian core. MI has three superstars in their team in the form of Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rohit Sharma.

In addition, they also have players like Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Krunal Pandya, and Rahul Chahar, who all have performed exceedingly well in the T20 league and domestic circuit and are now trying to find their feet in the international circuit.

“The Indian core is the Mumbai Indians’ biggest strength and it is not only a core but one which can do the encore. You have Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik, Krunal, Bumrah, and Rahul Chahar, they are the players who are going to play hundred percent in the playing XI and they are all match-winners in their own right,” said Chopra on his Facebook page.

“Which team has this kind of Indian core, you will not get one of this quality anywhere because you may not find a better batsman than Rohit Sharma in white-ball cricket, a better bowler than Bumrah, and a better all-rounder than Hardik. Krunal is matching him shoulder to shoulder, Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav have been absolute revelations,” added the former KKR player.

Only one team can match MI’s fast bowling repertoire and that is Delhi: Aakash Chopra

Further during the interaction, Aakash heaped praises on MI skipper Rohit Sharma saying that he is 24-carat-gold and should be given credit for the way he has led the side over the years.

“Their second huge strength is Rohit Sharma’s captaincy. He is 24-carat-gold, the best-cut diamond who knows very well how to read the game. From his face you will not be able to figure out which way the match is heading, he remains a little poker-faced,” the cricketer observed.

Lastly, the 43-year-old said that MI have one of the finest fast bowling attacks owing to the presence of Bumrah, Trent Boult, Nathan Coulter-Nile, and Dhawal Kulkarni. Aakash believes that the only team who can compete with MI in the IPL in regards to pace attack is Delhi Capitals who have Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.

“The third aspect is that they have one of the finest fast bowling attacks. They have Bumrah, Trent Boult, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Dhawal Kulkarni. Only one team can match their fast bowling repertoire and that is Delhi, who have Nortje and Kagiso Rabada. But they also don’t have an Indian replacement for Bumrah because there is only one Bumrah and Bhuvi is with Sunrisers Hyderabad,” concluded Chopra.