IPL 2022: Match 33 – Predicted Mumbai Indians Playing XI vs Chennai Super Kings

The Mumbai Indians (MI) are winless in their IPL 2022 campaign and are languishing at bottom of the points table. In their last fixture, they faced Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and lost by 18 runs. The team’s bowling woes have been the major reason behind their struggle. The same has kept the five-time champions away from the much-needed victory this season.

In their seventh fixture, they will be up against their arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and would look to come off as a better team. In the last fixture, the team included Caribbean all-rounder Fabian Allen in the playing XI, who was a little expensive but bowled his full quota of overs and took a single wicket. The Australian pacer Riley Meredith is expected to mark his presence in this fixture by replacing Tymal Mills, who has been ordinary in his last few appearances.

Here’s a look at the Mumbai Indians’ predicted XI against CSK:

Openers: Rohit Sharma (c) and Ishan Kishan (wk)

The opening duo of MI, Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan were touted to be one of the best combinations ahead of this season. However, they have been pretty average with their performances as a pair, barring the 67-run partnership in the fixture against Delhi Capitals (DC). It is of paramount importance that they get going to provide momentum to the team.

Rohit has garnered 114 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 129.55. His highest score of 41 of 33 came against DC. In the last fixture against LSG, he could only contribute six off seven balls. Although he has got starts with 20+ contributions in a couple of fixtures, hhas not converted into a big one.

The wicket-keeper Kishan slammed 81 off 48 balls against DC, but has not been able to maintain his form. In six innings, he has a total of 191 runs at a strike rate of 117.18. In the last fixture, he scored 13 off 17 balls.

Middle Order: Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma

The failure of top-order batters has been a problem for MI, but their middle-order has been up to their task with terrific performances in the tournament. The experienced Suryakumar Yadav and youngster Tilak Varma have stitched crucial partnerships in a few of the fixtures. In the upcoming matches as well, they will have to maintain the same form.

Suryakumar joined the team late, but is the best batter of the team with 200 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 153.85. His top score came against RCB, wherein he hit an unbeaten 68 off 37 balls. In the last fixture, he contributed 37 off 27 balls.

In his debut campaign, Tilak has garnered 184 runs in six innings at a strike rate of 147.58. He shot into the limelight after scoring a 33-ball 61 against Rajasthan Royals (RR). In the last game, he contributed with a run-a-ball 26 against LSG.

All-rounders: Kieron Pollard, Dewald Brevis, Fabian Allen

The all-rounder’s bracket of the MI constitutes talented players, who need to come good in crunch moments. The finisher with terrific ball-striking capabilities, Kieron Pollard has been rather average with his performances and has felt the absence of an able striker at the other end to provide him confidence. In six innings, he has contributed 82 runs with a strike rate of 134.43.

Often hailed as ‘Baby AB’, Dewald Brevis has impressed everybody with his confidence and attitude at the crease. In total, he has scored 117 runs and took a price scalp of Virat Kohli. In the last outing against LSG, he returned with a whirlwind knock of 31 from 13 balls.

The spin bowler and a useful batter in the lower order, Fabian Allen was called into the side in the last fixture. He finished with figures of 1/46 off four overs and scored eight off seven balls. Although he was average, but is a perfect fifth bowling option for MI, and can feature in this game as well.

Bowlers: Jaydev Unadkat, Murugan Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Riley Meredith

The bowling unit has struggled to get enough wickets under their belt this season. One of the four retained players, Jasprit Bumrah has managed to take only four wickets in six appearances at an economy of 7.57. Although he has been economical, his wicket-taking abilities held the key for MI in the last few editions.

Jaydev Unadkat has picked four wickets in three matches but has an economy of 8.83. In the last game, he finished with figures of 2/32 of four overs. On the other hand, Murugan Ashwin has six wickets in six matches at an economy of 7.81.

In the last fixture, Tymal Mills went for 54 runs off three overs, and this may trigger the team management to include Riley Meredith in place of him. Meredith has featured for the Australian T20I team and is a proven performer for the Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League. In BBL 2021/22, he picked up 16 wickets in 10 matches.

MI’s predicted playing XI for the CSK’s clash: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Dewald Brevis, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Fabian Allen, Jaydev Unadkat, Murugan Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Riley Meredith