IPL 2020: Match 1, Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings – MI Predicted Playing XI

After all the deliberations, discussions, rumours and hurdles, it will be cricket that will finally take the centre stage in the IPL 2020. The 13th edition of the tournament will kick off with the El-Classico between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK). There can’t be a better start to the tournament than this one. Four-time champions versus the three-time champions is all that one would ask for, for a start.

The Mumbai Indians seem pretty well settled. They have covered all their bases during the auction and have got plenty of options to choose from. Picking a XI for the first match of the tournament is always a strenuous task. However, the Mumbai-based team has got a well-settled core group of players. Their focus would be a build around that and find the perfect combination.

Here is the Predicted Playing XI for the Mumbai Indians (MI):

Openers (Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk))

It is confirmed that Rohit Sharma will open the innings for the Mumbai Indians. Thus, Quinton de Kock and Chris Lynn will have to fight for the other spot. The MI management might go ahead with the former for the opening game. Chris Lynn has had a tough time in the CPL 2020 and managed to score only 138 runs in 9 games at an average of 17.

Quinton de Kock has got the game to play on slow, low pitches. He is good against the spinners and deals the pacers well. Moreover, he doubles up as a very good wicket-keeping option. Playing on surfaces like in the UAE, a proven wicket-keeper in a must in the side.

Middle Order (Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan)

Suryakumar Yadav is most likely to continue at number three. He’s had a good season last year where he scored 424 runs in 16 games at an average of 33 and a strike rate of 131. He even hit two half-centuries and will like to convert his starts more often this time around.

Ishan Kishan will bat at number four in the side. The youngster, despite the immense potential that he’s got, struggled last season scoring only 101 runs in 7 games. He would fancy changing this in this edition of the league and would like to be less impulsive and play the ball as per its merit.

All-Rounders (Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya)

The troika of Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya have been the pillars of MI middle-order for quite some time now. MI will rely heavily on them both in the batting as well as the bowling departments. Pollard didn’t bowl in the IPL in the last two years. However, he rolled his arm in the recently concluded CPL and will provide an extra option for MI with the ball.

Hardik Pandya, who was in absolute beast mode in IPL 2019, will want to continue the good work. He can bowl two or three overs as per the requirement. Krunal, meanwhile, will have a big role to play with the ball. He should look to bowl slower on these pitches and test the batsmen.

Bowlers (Rahul Chahar, Mitchell McClenaghan, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah)

Rahul Chahar is a no-brainer in the MI eleven. He picked up 13 wickets in 13 games last year while maintaining an economy rate of 6.55. He has got the variations and will have a huge role just like Krunal. The pace trio of Mitchell McClenaghan, Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah will round up this eleven.

MI management will have to make a choice between McClenaghan and Nathan Coulter-Nile. However, it is highly likely that the former might be preferred. Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah can open the bowling and also handle the death overs.