IPL 2019: Best Mumbai Indians XI from the list of retained players

Mumbai Indians have retained 17 players and have also bought in one player through the transfer window from RCB. The team is now left with a salary cap of Rs.11.15 crore and can pick a maximum of 7 available players including 1 overseas player.

While looking at the list of the retained players in the Mumbai Indians lineup, it was evident that they can even skip the IPL 2019 auctions and can start the IPL 2019 with the existing set of players and still be in contention to win the title.

They have retained their core group of players and discarded the fluff from the team. Even with a core squad available, Mumbai Indians will need to pick a few players in the IPL 2019 auctions as cover for their Best XI, to account for injuries or a bad string of form.

Let us look at the Best possible XI from the list of retained players of Mumbai Indians and also try to evaluate what they will need to do in the IPL 2019 auctions.

# 1 Indian Fast-medium Bowler Slot - Jasprit Bumrah

Alternate pick – No one available in the retained players list

Having released other Indian pace bowlers in the squad like Pradeep Sangwan and Mohsin Khan, Jasprit Bumrah starts as the lone contender for the Indian pace bowler spot in the squad. As any cricket follower would understand, Bumrah would have been the preferred pace bowler for Mumbai even with any kind of competition for the spot.

But from the point of view of Mumbai Indians, bringing in replacements for JaspritBumrah in the IPL 2019 auctions should be the top priority. With the increased calls of Indian Captain Virat Kohli for resting Bumrah ahead of the World cup, it is important that Mumbai have a plan B in case things go awry.

Possible picks would include Mohammed Shami( released by Delhi Daredevils), Jaydev Unadkat ( released by Rajasthan Royals), Mohit Sharma and Barinder Sran (both released by Kings XI Punjab) or Vinay Kumar (released by Kolkata Knight Riders).

# 2 Indian Spinner Slot - Mayank Markande

Alternate pick – Anukul Roy/Rahul Chahar

The Indian Spinner slot will be retained by Mayank Markande and Mumbai do have adequate replacement options for this slot. With Krunal Pandya sure to play as an all-rounder, Mumbai need not play 2 spinners and hence will be content to play Mayank Markande as the lone spinner of the squad.

Unless maybe in Kolkata, where the management may opt to play Anukul Roy or Rahul Chahar to strengthen the spin bowling attack. Even with the possible predicament of Markande having a bad IPL season, Anukul Roy or Rahul Chahar can come in and deliver for Mumbai.

You can surely expect Markande to take up the spinner spot in the best possible XI from the list of retained players of Mumbai Indians. Also, don’t expect Mumbai Indians to go after any Indian spinners in the auction, because they don’t need to.

# 3 Overseas Fast-Medium Bowler Slot - Mitchell McClenaghan

Alternate pick – Adam Milne /Jason Behrendorff

The Overseas pace bowler slot of Mumbai Indians has been taken up by Mitchell McClenaghan for quite a few years ever since the decline of Lasith Malinga and the legacy of McClenaghan will continue in the IPL 2019 season too.

Mumbai Indians do have adequate backup for the foreign pacer slot with Adam Milne and Jason Behrendorff. Mumbai is most probably going to go with the option of one overseas pacer and 2 overseas all-rounders. Even if the team management decides to pick 2 overseas pace bowlers in lieu of an overseas allrounder, they have the players for that eventuality. Even with the possible predicament of McClenaghan unable to deliver the goods in the IPL season, Adam Milne or Jason Behrendorff can take up the mantle.

You can surely expect Mitchell McClenaghan to take up the overseas pace bowler spot in the best possible XI from the list of retained players of Mumbai Indians. Also, don’t expect Mumbai Indians to go after any overseas pace bowlers in the auction, because they don’t need to.

# 4 & # 5 - The 2 Indian All-rounders – The Pandya Brothers

Alternate pick – No one available in the retained players list

Both of them are part of the core group of the Mumbai team and can be considered as sure shot starters for every match.

Now, what happens if either of them doesn’t perform? You can expect that Mumbai will definitely give a longer rope for them to get back into the groove before going for a replacement option at these 2 slots. What happens in case of an injury to either of them? In such a scenario, Mumbai will need to place a batsman/bowler for that slot since they don’t have any replacement options. Making such a move will impact the squad balance and will not be preferred by Mumbai most probably.

It is in this context that the need to pick a few replacement options in the IPL 2019 auctions becomes evident.

Among the Indian allrounders, best possible options could be Gurkeerat Singh Mann (released by Delhi Daredevils) or Axar Patel (released by Kings XI Punjab).

Whichever players they pick, whoever it might be, will have to pray for chances to come their way as it is quite certain who the preferred 2 Indian all-rounders of Mumbai will be.

# 6 & # 7 - The Overseas allrounders - Kieron Pollard and Ben Cutting

Alternate pick – No one available in the retained players list

Kieron Pollard picks himself into the squad on any day with his reputation and performances. Mumbai will most probably like to have a longer batting lineup and will prefer to have Ben Cutting in their preferred XI ahead of a bowler. After all the heavy performances he had put in the last IPL season for Mumbai, he would be preferred to get into the playing XI. But the fact that apart from these two, there are no backup players with Mumbai looms large.

It is in this context that the need to pick a few replacement options in the IPL 2019 auctions becomes evident. With the fact that only one overseas slot is available; you can be most probably certain that that overseas player slot will be used up for finding a backup all-rounder for these 2 stalwarts.

It is possible that Mumbai might go after Daniel Christian, Chris Woakes or Carlos Brathwaite from among the list of other retained players. Since Corey Anderson has not proven himself in recent times, it is safe to assume that Mumbai might not be interested in him.

# 8,9,10 - 3 Indian Top Order Batsmen- Surya Kumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma

Alternate pick – Siddhesh Lad/Aditya Tare

Though every cricket lover would love to see Rohit Sharma at the top of the order as an opener, Mumbai Indians will most probably continue their policy of keeping the hitman back as a Number 4 player. Suryakumar Yadav can be expected to open the innings and the young Ishan Kishan will take up the Number 3 mantle in the squad.

What is interesting to see is that in Sidhesh Lad and Aditya Tare, Mumbai does have backups as a batsman and a wicketkeeper. But with 7 slots available, Mumbai Indians will definitely fancy their chances to grab a few Indian batsmen to cover any eventualities. It goes without saying that Rohit Sharma is irreplaceable in the squad and it is quite impossible to plan for a scenario where Rohith is unable to play.

Most possible options that Mumbai Indians will fancy could be Sachin Baby (released by SunrisersHyderabad)Sarfraz Khan (released by RCB). Mumbai might also pick an unknown player into their fold and mentor him to take up the responsibility in the years to come. There is also an outside chance that Mumbai might pick Yuvraj Singh, but the possibility seems a bit far-fetched.

Whoever the backups are, don’t expect them to get into the playing XI in the first few matches. Mumbai Indians will definitely go with the time-tested Indian top order of Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and Rohit Sharma to win them the IPL 2019 trophy.

# 11 Overseas Opener Slot - Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock was traded by Mumbai from RCB for IPL 2019 season

Alternate pick - Evin Lewis

The move by Mumbai Indians to get the services of Quinton de Kock seems to be a smart move looking at a possible replacement for Evin Lewis at the top of the order. Evin Lewis for sure has been influential for Mumbai in the last IPL season, but the recent form of the West Indies opener may become a spot of bother for Mumbai Indians.

With the signing of Quinton de Kock that uncertainty is well hedged. Also, the presence of de Kock provides the team the services of an international wicket-keeper who may reduce the dependence of the team on Ishan Kishan to a large extent. If Ishan Kishan does not perform at his No.3 spot, the team is not forced to play him as the designated wicket-keeper and can then look at other possible options to strengthen the batting lineup.

The foreign opener slot is definitely a juggle between the West Indian and the South African. But with the added value that Quinton de Kock brings to the table, he is our designated foreign opener in our Best Mumbai Indians XI of retained players.

Don’t be surprised if you see Quinton de Kock walking ahead of Evin Lewis right from the start of the IPL 2019 season.

Summing up, Mumbai Indians IPL 2019 Auction Strategy will include:

#1 One/Two Indian Pace Bowlers – Possible Players from the list of released players include: Mohammed Shami, JaydevUnadkat, Mohit Sharma, BarinderSran, Vinay Kumar

#2 Two/Three All-rounders (One overseas) – Possible Players from the list of released players include: Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Axar Patel, Daniel Christian, Chris Woakes, Carlos Brathwaite

#3 Two/Three Indian Batsmen – Possible Players from the list of released players include: Sachin Baby, Sarfraz Khan, Yuvraj Singh