IPL 2021: Match 55 – Strongest Mumbai Indians (MI) Predicted Playing XI against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)

The hat-trick of titles for the Mumbai Indians seems a distant dream. Here is the miracle that needs to come true for their qualification after KKR road-rolled RR in Sharjah on October 7: MI will have to defeat their Friday rivals Sunrisers Hyderabad by 171 runs to surpass KKR net run rate. Not that this is any likely to happen, they will be knocked out as early as the toss should SRH win and bat first.

For all of Mumbai Indians’ odd-year success and strange superstitious narratives, 2021 has been truly an odd year for the five-time champions. They found themselves wanting in the initial leg when the sluggish surfaces at Chennai denied them their style of play before normalcy resumed in Delhi, where tracks with a bit more pace and bounce helped them bounce back and bring their campaign on track.

All that, however, for the deadly Covid-19 virus to mess, as the tournament was halted midway. Come to the UAE leg, MI had no luxury of making a slow start they are so fondly known for. But old habits die hard. And so what if was a restart and not a start? Mumbai (re)started slow, lost three games on the trot and found themselves in a territory of needing to play unreasonable catch-up.

Those dents at the start of the UAE leg meant Rohit Sharma’s men no longer had their fate in their control, with net run rate certain to come into play. Even as a mathematical probability remains, Mumbai Indians know it is time to pack up and start thinking about 2022.

Predicted Playing XI of Mumbai Indians (MI) for IPL 2021 Match 55:

Openers – Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan

Mumbai Indians broke their opening combination in the previous game by bringing in Ishan Kishan for Quinton de Kock and the move turned out to be an instant hit, with Kishan bludgeoning a 25-ball 50, including five fours and three sixes, which flattened Rajasthan Royals to defeat.

Rohit Sharma looked fluent himself in his 13-ball 22 that had a couple of sixes but perished to Chetan Sakariya after the brisk start. While Sharma has not been able to emulate his Indian leg performance in the UAE, the biggest positive for MI remains the return of form for Kishan, which is why he is expected to be given a go again alongside his skipper at the top.

Middle-order – Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Saurabh Tiwary

Suryakumar Yadav lasted for a brief while against RR, scoring 13 off 8 in an aggressive manner but was dismissed with his team on the cusp of a victory. 2021 has not been his most memorable season: he has tallied 235 at an average of 18.07 and a strike rate of 129.83, in stark contrast to the previous season where his numbers 480 at 40 and 145.01.

Saurabh Tiwary continued to be the in-and-out player for the team, playing only five of their 13 fixtures this season. His strike rate and slow approach continue to be in question but in a middle-order that has hardly clicked, an average of 57.50 for 115 runs does make better reading.

All-rounders – Kieron Pollard, James Neesham

The Kishan show against Royals meant neither Kieron Pollard nor James Neesham’s services were needed with that bat. Neesham, who was brought in at the expense of a misfiring Krunal Pandya, returned with staggering figures of 3/12 in what was only his second outing in the 2021 edition, and first in the UAE leg. The duo picks itself.

Bowlers – Nathan Coulter-Nile, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Rahul Chahar

Contrary to his reputation of being a slightly expensive bowler, Nathan Coulter-Nile has continuously impressed in 2021, having given runs at an economy of 5.43. Against the Royals, he was at his sensational best, returning with a career-best 4/14 alongside Jasprit Bumrah, who picked 2/14 in his quota.

Trent Boult, meanwhile, has continued to punch below his weight and returned wicketless as many as three times, including the last fixture, in five games in the UAE leg thus far. All he has in fact in the second leg is a meagre four wickets. Mumbai are expected to bring back Rahul Chahar in place of Jayant Yadav, who was included for a match-up advantage against left-handed loaded DC and RR.