IPL 2018: Mumbai Indians predicted playing XI to take on Delhi Daredevils

As the defending champions, Mumbai Indians have begun the 2018 edition of the IPL in a forgetful fashion: two agonising defeats in two matches which they should have comfortably won.

To begin with, against the Chennai Super Kings, they let go an advantageous position when Dwayne Bravo went berserk in an eventually successful run chase of 166 after the Super Kings were 84/6.

Come Sunrisers Hyderabad, they again put up only a modest 147 but surrendered when the hosts were 137/8 and needed 11 off 8 balls with only Deepak Hooda standing.

Mumbai's problem has been a lack of runs, with captain Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis out of form.

They host the Delhi Daredevils tomorrow and will be under pressure to finally register a win. Sportskeeda looks at their predicted XI against Delhi at the Wankhede Stadium.

Openers

Sharma has a had a quiet start to the tournament and as the captain of the side will want to lead from the front especially with Mumbai winless so far.

Scores of 15 and 11 against Chennai and Hyderabad, respectively, has hurt his team considering how threatening Sharma can be in the shorter formats of the game.

Though in both innings he got going with a four and a six each, Rohit will want to make it big before it gets too late.

The latest big-hitter from the Caribbean, Lewis' rise as a smashing opener in T20 cricket has been phenomenal.

Though he was dismissed for a duck against Chennai, he threw away a start in the following match against Hyderabad when he fell for 29 off 17 balls.

Mumbai will be hoping Lewis goes big in a match they must win to avoid tumbling in the tournament.

Middle-order

Ishan Kishan, Mumbai's wicketkeeper-batsman, showed his hitting abilities against Chennai in a knock of 40 from 29 balls against the likes of Shane Watson, Harbhajan Singh, Mark Wood and Imran Tahir.

He came in at No.3, and Kishan will be disappointed to have gone cheaply against Hyderabad with only nine runs to his name.

Suryakumar Yadav is another of those capable smashers in the Mumbai line-up who can go for the boundaries from an early stage.

That is something he did brilliantly in a knock of 43 against Chennai, which included four fours and a six.

However, he was kept in check against the spin of Rashid Khan and Shakib Al Hasan in the next game.

Yadav will want to have a fine impact in the middle-order at home against the Delhi bowlers.

The big man Keiron Pollard has everything T20 cricket can ask for – massive sixes, sharp medium pace with deceiving slower balls and agile fielding.

Unfortunately, he neither did not get to bat against Chennai nor did he bowl, and in the following game, gave away his wicket after an aggressive 28 with three fours and two sixes. That is something he will look forward to double up when he faces Delhi tomorrow.

Mumbai might decide on including a stroke player in the middle, and left-handed JP Duminy gives them that option.

With Ben Cutting falling for nine and then conceding 40 in four overs against Hyderabad, Duminy, who also offers part-time spin, might sneak into the line-up in the former's place. At No.6, Duminy can also go after the bowlers from the word go.

All-rounders

Hardik Pandya's ankle injury is a cause of real concern for Mumbai, but they will be hoping he can be drafted in after having missed his services against Hyderabad.

His 22* in the first game gave Mumbai a decent total, while 3/24 almost took them to victory. Hardik's return will be a big boost with his all-round options.

Left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya has always been an asset for Mumbai, and he proved his worth once again with 41* off only 22 balls against Chennai.

Economical bowling against Hyderabad – he gave away just 10 runs in two overs – applied pressure on the opposition in crucial moments, though his efforts went in vain.

Spinner

Mayank Markande, the find of the few-days-old IPL season so far, has earned a name for himself courtesy of his accurate leg-spinners as well as the deliveries turning the other way.

Figures of 3/23 and 4/23 both could not lead Mumbai to a win, but he and his side will be keenly wanting Markande to repeat his heroics against Delhi.

Fast Bowlers

Always a crucial addition in limited-overs cricket, Jasprit Bumrah hasn't quite hit his straps in the two matches so far.

Expensive with only a single wicket and 2/32 against Chennai and Hyderabad, respectively, do not speak of his potential.

Effectiveness from Bumrah, particularly at the death, is a big factor for Mumbai to restrict the opposition.

Expensive in the first game but highly impressive in the next, Mustafizur Rahman endured contrasting fortunes in both of Mumbai's games.

He was taken for 39 by the Chennai batsmen, but hit back with 3/24 against Hyderabad, being the sixth bowler to be given the ball by his captain.

An effective spell from the talented left-arm pacer can certainly win Mumbai important games.