IPL 2017 KKR vs MI: Mumbai Indians (MI) Today's probable playing 11 against Kolkata Knight Riders

Going into IPL 2017 as one of the favourites, two-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians did not get off to the most auspicious start as they lost their first match of the season against Rising Pune Supergiant by seven wickets.

The bowlers leaked plenty of runs and the fielding wasn’t up to the mark as Steve Smith led Pune to a huge victory. Mumbai, now take on two-time IPL champions, Kolkata Knight Riders at the historic Wankhede Stadium later today.

At least two changes are expected in the MI XI from their last match as their batsman, Ambati Rayudu, is ruled out of the match with a grade 1 groin tear and the team is set to bring back two of their seasoned campaigners, Harbhajan Singh and Lasith Malinga. Here is the possible playing XI for Mumbai Indians:

Openers

MI captain Rohit Sharma will have to deliver with the bat for his side

The Mumbai Indians team management sprang a surprise by choosing England’s wicketkeeper Jos Buttler to open the batting and the Somerset-born right-hander repaid the faith his team had in him by scoring a 19-ball 38 with the help of three fours and three sixes. He will be expected to take the team off to a great start inside the first six overs and set a platform for the batsmen to follow to capitalise and cash in.

Parthiv Patel has been in fine form and is likely to open the batting for Mumbai Indians against the Knight Riders. He looked good before he was castled around his legs by Imran Tahir in the first match. With Buttler going all guns blazing, Parthiv will look to keep the scorecard ticking and give the Englishman the strike.

Middle-Order

Ambati Rayudu is out with a grade 1 groin tear

Rohit Sharma, who was out of action since October, returned to action last week when Mumbai Indians took on RPS. The captain had a forgettable outing as he was castled by Tahir for just 3. With KKR bring his favourite opposition, a lot will be expected from the Mumbaikar as his team needs for some inspiration after a loss in the first match.

Nitish Rana had a very good outing with the bat in MI’s first match of the season by scoring a crucial 34 when MI batsmen were bamboozled by Tahir’s magic. He dropped Steve Smith before the Aussie got his eye in and it turned out of to be decisive as Smith led the way for his team with an unbeaten 84. He will look to forget about the dropped catch and make amends when he takes the field against KKR.

All-rounders

Hardik Pandya had a terrible outing for MI last season but started the 2017 edition with a bang as he had a good all-round game against the RPS. He plundered Ashok Dinda for 28 runs in an over and remained unbeaten on 35 off just 15 balls. With the ball, he chipped in with a wicket when he brought his team back into the game by dismissing Ben Stokes.

With Ambati Rayudu ruled out, Krunal Pandya has a huge role to play. The Baroda all-rounder has the ability to anchor the innings and at the same time, he can accelerate when needed. He failed to get runs under his belt in the first match and will look to change things around in Mumbai’s second match of the season.

Kieron Pollard has been a proven match-winner for Mumbai Indians over the last few years and the West Indian has not been at his best of late. Though he scored a 17-ball 27 in MI’s last match, Pollard has to score runs on a consistent basis. He hurt his elbow in the match against RPS and in spite of that, he is likely to take the field later today.

Bowlers

McClenaghan has been MI’s best bowler in the last two seasons

One of the four players to remain in the same team in the past 9 seasons, Harbhajan Singh, missed the first game of the season due to a back injury but is set to return for MI’s second match as a replacement for Ambati Rayudu.

Mitchell McClenaghan is Mumbai Indians’ best bowler ever since he joined the team a couple of years back. In spite of missing a majority of New Zealand’s international assignment in the last season, McClenaghan was right on target in Mumbai’s first match and will hope to continue the same thing in the match against KKR too. With KKR expected to go in with a spin-heavy XI, it won’t be a surprise if McClenaghan is promoted up the order as a pinch-hitter.

Ahead of the second match of the season, the Mumbai Indians fans and the team management has something to cherish as they are set to welcome their seasoned campaigner, Lasith Malinga back to the team after the Lankan international missed the first match due to the T20 series against Bangladesh. Malinga looked sharp in both the matches he played against Mashrafe Mortaza and co. and the MI fans will expect the same from the right-arm pacer when he takes the field vs KKR.

Jasprit Bumrah went wicketless in Mumbai’s first match of the season, something that the pacer is not used to in the last one year. Being India’s best limited-overs fast bowler, Bumrah has a huge role to play for his franchise this season. Bumrah and Malinga bowling in tandem in the death will make life difficult for the opposition batsmen.