IPL 2018, MI vs RR: Mumbai Indians (MI) predicted XI against Rajasthan Royals (RR)

Mumbai Indians have predominantly been a team that starts off slowly and picks up pace as the tournament goes on. They’ve made it a habit of losing a lot of games up front and then recovering and coming back strongly at the back end.

It has been no different this season as they lost 6 out of their first 8 games and have then won three on the bounce. They’ve been brilliant in these last three games and they are picking up momentum going to the back end of the tournament. They are currently placed fifth on the points table with 10 points from 11 games. However, MI will need to continue their good form as they still need to win all their remaining games to qualify for the playoffs.

The MI batting has more or less fired in the last few games. Their bowling has been consistent right throughout the tournament and their fielding has been a big plus. Thus, let’s take a quick look at how the Rohit Sharma-led side might line-up today for their game against Rajasthan Royals, another team that is in good form and are on 10 points (tied with MI but behind due to net run rate).

Suryakumar Yadav has had a breakthrough season for MI. He’s scored 435 runs (highest for MI this year) in 11 innings, he’s got 4 half-centuries and in 11 innings, he has registered just two single-digit scores. The 27-year-old Mumbai lad who opened the batting for the first time this season has been giving MI good solid starts at the top. Thus, MI will be hoping that the local boy continues his good form and delivers for them and keep them in the hunt for the playoffs.

Evin Lewis has had a stop-start season and his form has been a bit scratchy. He got a duck on debut but slowly was finding his groove before there was a lull for a couple of innings. But he’s got starts in his last few games and hasn’t kicked on. But Lewis has time and again showed what he can do and thus, MI will continue to persist with the West Indian opener.

There a lot of talk surrounding Rohit Sharma’s batting position. But he has now settled down at No. 3. However, he hasn’t been in the best of forms in this IPL. Despite being the second highest run-getter for MI this season, Rohit has just scored 267 runs in 11 innings. He’s had two big knocks (94 and 56) and both resulted in a win. Thus, the team management and Rohit himself will be hoping that he gets that big knock and gets into his groove in the back end of the tournament.

After going through a lean phase for a few innings where he endured two ducks in three innings, Ishan Kishan roared back into form with blistering 21-ball 62 in the last against KKR. He completely changed the complexion of the game with his knock. In 9 innings that Kishan has played this season, he has had four 30+ scores and has also registered three ducks. Hence, the Jharkhand wicket-keeper batsman will want to be a bit more consistent.

Hardik Pandya’s resurgence has come just about at the right time for MI. He was more or less consistent with the ball (he’s taken 16 wickets this season) but it was his form with the bat that was a worrying factor for Mumbai. But the younger Pandya has come back to form and has had scores of 50, 23, 35 (not out) and 19 in his last four innings. He’s taken the responsibility of batting at the death and has done really well.

JP Duminy has rarely been used in this season. He’s played in 5 games and has batted in three innings. And even in those three innings, he’s faced just 40 deliveries (combined). He hasn’t been used with the ball as well (he has bowled only 3 overs in the 5 games he’s played). However, MI will not want to tinker with their batting which has been doing well in the last few games.

Apart from a few cameos here and there, Krunal Pandya hasn’t really fired with the bat. However, he has contributed with a couple of crucial knocks. He scored a very good 41 in the first game of the season and then scored an unbeaten 12-ball 31 a couple of games earlier against KXIP to take MI home in a tense run chase. With the ball, he’s picked up 11 wickets in as many games and has kept things pretty tight.

No. 8 as a batting position might be a tad too low for the caliber of Ben Cutting but the Australian all-rounder has been used as a floater. He scored a 9-ball 24 in the last game batting at No. 6. He hasn’t bowled a lot as well. But he is a big match player and he has shown what he is capable of and thus, MI will most likely continue to use him as a floater.

Mitchell McClenaghan has been excellent in this season. He wasn’t picked in the auction but came in as a replacement and is currently the third highest wicket-taker for MI this season. He's run in and hit the deck hard, not giving away too much to the opposition batsmen. Thus, McClenaghan will continue to be MI’s first-choice foreign pacer.

Mayank Markande has been the find of the season for MI. He’s been an absolute revelation for them. After a wonderful first few games, it did seem like the 20-year-old leggie was tapering away but in the last four games, he has been very good. He has conceded less than 30 in the last four games and also has picked up a wicket each in every game.

For a change, Jasprit Bumrah has been MI’s silent performer. Despite taking 12 wickets in 11 games at an economy of just 6.83, Bumrah has not been in the spotlight. He was taken for runs at the death in a couple of games, but the 24-year-old Gujarat pacer has been very good. And MI will be banking on him to continue his good form and give them those four crucial overs.