IPL 2018: Star-studded MI who could face-off against MS Dhoni's men

The much-awaited IPL auctions, as expected, didn't cease to amaze. Quite a few stars shockingly went unsold. On the contrary, previously unknown names hit the jackpot. The auctions were as dynamic as it was expected to be and the upcoming edition of the IPL is shaping up to be one of the most exciting ones in recent times.

The Mumbai Indians will be reasonably happy coming out of the auctions, considering that they managed to retain a good chunk of their 2017 IPL winning squad.

Without further ado, let's take a look at their probably playing eleven in the upcoming edition of the IPL:

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Openers

Evin Lewis & Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper)

Mumbai Indians will be delighted to have bagged the West Indian at just ₹3.8 crores. The southpaw has been touted to be the next Chris Gayle and was expected to earn big money in the auctions. However, Lewis was pulled out of the bag only on day 2 and most teams had already exhausted most of their funds by then. Mumbai Indians made good use of the scenario and bagged the destructive opener for a terrific bargain. He has already hit a T20I century in India, and will be raring to go in the IPL. The flat track at Wankhede could suit the West Indian perfectly.

Ishan Kishan at ₹6.2 crores was an overpriced purchase by the Mumbai Indians. However, it could turn out to be a good one in hindsight. He is only 19 years old and also doubles as a wicket-keeper. He led the Indian U-19 team in 2016 and has tremendous potential. He is explosive with the bat and along with Evin Lewis, could give the Mumbai Indians a flying start on many an occasion.

Middle-order

Pollard was unsurprisingly RTM-ed by the Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Suryakumar Yadav

Captain Rohit Sharma has been coming at number 3 for a while now, and there's no reason to mend something that is not broken. He could open the innings as he does for team India. However, with Kishan and Lewis there, the Mumbai skipper will be more than happy to come in to bat after the fall of the first wicket.

Kieron Pollard has been one of the pivotal all-rounders in IPL history. However, he hasn't been bowling off late. This doesn't undermine his value though, as just his batting is enough for him to walk into any IPL starting eleven. Him being a mindless power hitter is a misconception to say the least. Pollard has time and again shown that he is an intelligent batsman who can bat as per the situation. He is a big match player and will be looking to serve the Mumbai Indians as well as he has been for over eight years now.

Suryakumar Yadav has played for the Knight Riders since 2014 and has been a handy batsman for them in the lower order. He can slog and would thus slot in well at number 6 for the Mumbai Indians. Though he was a part of the Mumbai Indians squad from 2011 to 2013, he got to feature in just a solitary game in that period. The Mumbaikar will be hoping to regularly feature for his home side in his second stint with the Mumbai Indians. The Wankhede is his home ground and he has been in good touch off late, so his hopes are likely to come true.

All-rounders

Hardik Pandya will be glad his elder brother, Krunal, was RTM-ed by the Mumbai Indians

Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya

The Pandya brothers are the biggest assets to the Mumbai Indians side.

The younger brother, Hardik, has become a regular in the Indian cricket team. He is a destructive batsman to say the least, and has a knack of taking wickets with the ball. He would make an excellent number 5, but could come in earlier or later depending on the situation. He can hit sixes at will, and can add valuable runs towards the end of the innings.

His elder brother, Krunal, hasn't got an Indian cap yet. However, he is as important in the IPL as his younger brother is. Krunal is excellent with the ball in the middle overs, and hardly gives any runs away. With the bat, he is a useful floater who can come in and stabilize the innings or explode, whatever is required.

Ben Cutting, the man of the match in the 2016 IPL finals, is another all-rounder who is likely to feature for the Mumbai Indians. His fast bowling will come handy and he is more than useful with the bat as well.

The greatest USP of this MI side is that players playing in the middle-order, right from number 4 to number 7, can interchange in the batting lineup among themselves. Over the past few years, the players have proved that they are equally adept in steadying the ship as they are in accelerating it.

Bowlers

Pat Cummins is likely to be Mumbai's spearhead overseas pacer

Rahul Chahar, Pat Cummins, Mustafizur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah

Lasith Malinga has passed on the baton of being a lethal death over bowler to Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah has time and again proven his class with the ball. Getting to retain him for just ₹7 crore was a boon for the Mumbai Indians. He will undoubtedly be the spearhead of the Mumbai bowling attack.

Beside him will be Aussie pacer Pat Cummins. Cummins regularly bowls above the 145 kmph mark and is a genuine fast bowler. He will in all likeliness bowl in the powerplay overs, and could be useful at the death as well.

"The Fizz", Mustafizur Rahman, could be Mumbai's third pacer alongside Cummins and Bumrah. The young southpaw would be a revelation for the Mumbai Indians if he can emulate his 2016 exploits. However, if he fails to do so, Mumbai Indians have a great backup left-arm pacer in Jason Behrendorff.

Rahul Chahar is pegged to be Krunal's counterpart in the spin department for the Mumbai Indians. He bowled well for Rajasthan in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and will be looking forward to carrying his good form in to the IPL.

Summary:

Probable starting eleven: Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan (wk), Rohit Sharma (c), Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Pat Cummins, Mustafizur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah