IPL 2018: Probable starting XI for MI

Mumbai Indians are the most successful team in the history of the IPL. In the last 5 years they have won the IPL a record three times. One of the most consistent teams of the competition, this year they retained a core group of players who led them to the title last year.

Rohit Sharma continues to lead the side with Jasprit Bumrah, the Pandya brothers and Pollard forming the core of the side.

The team management have made some very interesting additions to the side, having bought Pat Cummins, Mustafizur Rehman and the ever dependable JP Duminy among others.

So, with so many options available what is the likely playing XI for the Mumbai Indians? Let us have a look.

Openers

1.Evin Lewis

An attacking left-handed batsman from the Caribbean, Evin Lewis is one of the most destructive batsmen of the T20 format of the game. He has based his game on his idol - Chris Gayle and like Gayle, he can clear the boundary in any ground in the world.

In the only 14 T20 internationals he has played so far, he has scored 468 runs studded with two centuries and a strike rate of 155. Bought for just 3.8 crore rupees, he is likely to be a handful for the opposition bowlers.

2.Ishan Kishan

This talented 19-year-old hailing from Jharkhand, the land of MS Dhoni, will double up as a wicketkeeper as well as an opener for the Mumbai Indians. He came into the limelight after he led India at the Under-19 World Cup in 2016 in Bangladesh, where his team finished runners-up to the West Indies.

Kishan then played for the Gujarat Lions in the 2017 edition of the IPL, scoring 277 runs in 11 matches. The Mumbai Indians will be hoping for some quick runs at the top of the order from him.

Middle Order

Rohit Sharma is an integral part of Mumbai's lineup

3. Rohit Sharma

One of the most naturally gifted and graceful players of the game, Rohit Sharma has been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians set-up since 2011. As a captain, he has led the team to three IPL titles in 5 seasons - a truly exceptional record.

Although he opens for the Indian team, he prefers to bat in the middle order for his IPL franchise to provide the much needed stability to the middle order. His IPL record is also exceptional - 4207 runs in 159 matches, at an average of 32 and strike rate of 131. Mumbai Indians' fate will depend a lot on how the 'Hitman' performs.

4. Suryakumar Yadav

An aggressive batsman who can also bowl, Suryakumar Yadav is best suited to the shorter format of the game. He is not afraid to innovate, and his unorthodox batting style puts a lot of bowlers out of their stride.

He played the last three seasons of the IPL for KKR where he finished off many matches for them. Mumbai will be hoping for a similar performance from him this time around.

All-rounders

Pollard provides Mumbai Indians with a lot of firepower in the middle order.

5. Kieron Pollard

Big hitting all-rounder Kieron Pollard signed up for the Mumbai Indians in 2009 and since then he has been a very component of every title winning run of the franchise.

A genuine allrounder who can clear any boundary rope in the world, he is also one of the most athletic fielders in the world. His IPL record is formidable - 2343 runs in 123 matches at a strike rate of 147. The Wankhede would be hoping for some lusty blows from him at the end of the innings.

6. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya is the next big thing of Indian cricket today. A pace bowling all rounder who is capable of big hits down the order is absolute gold standard in cricket today and Pandya is exactly that type of a player.

He had a wonderful IPL 2017 scoring 250 runs as well as taking 6 wickets to complement the strong Mumbai Indians bowling lineup.

The flamboyant Baroda all-rounder was retained by the Mumbai Indians and he would be looking to repay the trust with some good performances.

7. Krunal Pandya

The older Pandya too was retained by the Mumbai Indians by playing their RTM (Right to Match) card for a whopping 8.8 crore. A canny left arm spinner and a powerful hitter down the order Krunal Pandya proved to be a revelation for the Mumbai Indians in the 2017 edition of the IPL as he played a very important role in Mumbai's title winning run.

He ended IPL 2017 with 10 wickets from 13 matches and also scored 243 runs at a strike-rate of 136. Mumbai would be hoping for more of the same from him this year as well.

Spin Bowlers

Little known Rahul Chahar was bought for 1.9 crores.

8. Rahul Chahar

18 years old Rahul Chahar was picked up by the Mumbai Indians as the primary spinner for the team. A leg-spinner hailing from Rajasthan, he has impressed one and all with his performances in the Under-19 format.

Later, he went on to perform in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy as well, picking up 6 wickets in 4 games. He played for the Pune franchise in the 2017 edition, but only got game time in 3 matches.

With Mumbai Indians putting their faith in him, he would be looking forward to a more successful journey this time around.

Pace bowlers

Bumrah is the leader of Mumbai's pace attack.

9. Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah grabbed eyeballs first with his unorthodox action, and then his bowling skills. There can be no greater praise than that given by the Australian captain Steven Smith, who termed him the best death bowler in the world today.

Armed with an unorthodox action and his ability to bowl yorkers at will, he is one of the most dependable bowlers for the Mumbai Indians. He had a wonderful IPL 2017 when he picked up 20 wickets in 17 matches and Mumbai would be hoping for more of the same from him.

10. Pat Cummins

Tall, fast and furious - Pat Cummins has batsman hopping around in the crease when he is in full flow. Pat Cummins enjoyed a sensational Test debut, taking a match total seven wickets to set up a thrilling two-wicket win to square the series against South Africa at the Wanderers.

In the IPL he spent two seasons with KKR before moving to to the Delhi Daredevils last season where he picked up 17 wickets.

11. Mustafizur Rehman

A nineteen-year-old Mustafizur Rahman grabbed attention during India's tour of Bangladesh (June 2015) when picked up two five-wicket hauls in his first two matches. He was instrumental in Hyderabad's 2016 title winning run picking up 17 wickets.

The 'Fiz' posseses a lethal yorker and also has a very deceptive slower one. After a disappointing 2017 IPL he would be looking to bounce back in this edition of the IPL.