IPL 2020: Match 13, KXIP vs MI – MI Predicted Playing XI

The Mumbai Indians (MI) were involved in a nail-biting thriller against the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Batting first in that game, the Royal Challengers put up a big total on the board. Halfway through the chase, it seemed as if it’d be a very difficult task for them to get anywhere near the target. However, the likes of Kieron Pollard and Ishan Kishan had other plans and pulled off the near impossible.

But the team couldn’t sustain with the heroics in the Super Over and hence it ended up in a loss for them. Thus, as a result, they only have one win from three games. However, their NRR is right up there with some of the better teams in the tournament and that is one positive. Facing the Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in the upcoming game, they’d fancy going one up in the wins column. But it won’t be easy against the Kings who have looked equally good and this sets up the platform for a wonderful cricket game.

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

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

With only 100 runs in three games so far, Rohit Sharma was nowhere near his best thus far. 80 off those runs came in just one match while he accumulated 20 runs in the other two. The way he got out against CSK and RCB was disappointing and he’d like to be more decisive with his shot selection this time around.

Quinton de Kock has also had a tough time. Opening the innings, he failed to take the advantage of the powerplays scoring at a strike rate of just 126. Moreover, he only mustered 48 runs so far which is a slight concern for MI. But since Chris Lynn hasn’t been in great form, the South Africa captain is likely to get a few more opportunities.

Middle Order (Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan)

Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan will fill MI’s middle-order. The former also has been disappointing thus far in the tournament. Yadav was gone for a duck in the last game after a decent performance against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). MI would want him to step up and be more consistent with the bat in this season.

Ishan Kishan, after the whirlwind knock in the last match, will no doubt hold on to his place in the side. He replaced Saurabh Tiwary in the eleven as he was unavailable for selection due a niggle. Unlike in the last seasons, the fans will have their fingers crossed expecting that he’s more consistent this season.

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

Progressing forward into the tournament, MI will be perturbed with the form of the Pandya brothers. Hardik Pandya, who hasn’t bowled thus far, failed to deliver with the bat only scoring 47 runs at a strike rate of 131. Krunal Pandya, meanwhile, only picked up one wicket and his economy rate has been nearly 9. Yet, they are irreplaceable in the side given the kind of impact they can make and MI will wish that they get back to their best soon.

Kieron Pollard was phenomenal against the Royal Challengers Bangalore with a 24-ball 60. Towards the end of his innings, everything that he was hitting was only travelling over the ropes. The vice-captain, moreover, has even chipped in with the ball whenever required by his team.

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

MI might bring in a change to the bowling line-up and rope in Mitchell McClenaghan in place of James Pattinson. The Victorian cricketer went for 51 runs in 4 overs in the last game. Thus, by bringing in McClenaghan, who is a left-arm pacer, they would like to add another dimension to the attack. Rahul Chahar will continue as the spinner and did quite well in the last match.

Jasprit Bumrah is another concern and the MI team seems quite fragile when he’s not at his best. Teams have looked the attack the pace spearhead and he has thus been put under pressure and Bumrah needs to find ways to counter-attack. Trent Boult, meanwhile, has done a decent job. He has picked up 5 wickets in 3 games.