IPL 2019: Mumbai Indians' strongest playing XI against Chennai Super Kings

Mumbai Indians face the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium on the 3rd of April. Both these teams had very different results in their previous games. While CSK won their game against RR, MI lost to KXIP.

MI went with an unchanged XI against KXIP after beating RCB. But MI seems to have a lot of problems as their middle order is faltering and their sixth bowler, Hardik Pandya has been leaking runs every game. Kieron Pollard has been average in the first three games and even Suryakumar Yadav hasn't been converting his starts into big ones.

MI face the toughest and the most in-form side on 3rd April and the combination that Rohit Sharma opts to go with will be interesting to see. So, without further ado, here is the strongest XI of Mumbai Indians against the Chennai Super Kings:

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#1. Openers ( Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock)

Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock have looked good at the top for MI ( Image Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI)

This looks to be the most settled opening combination that Mumbai Indians have had in the last couple of years. These two have been giving some great starts for MI up top, but the middle order hasn't been able to continue on the momentum provided by this opening duo.

They stitched their second consecutive 50 run partnership against KXIP in the last game and while Rohit Sharma wasn't able to convert his start, de Kock converted his one. Sharma made a very fast 32 off just 18 balls and de Kock scored 60 runs off 39 balls.

Both of them have been looking in good touch and with the Wankhede wicket expected to assist batting, expect another good start from these two in the power play for MI.

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#2 Middle Order ( Suryakumar Yadav, Yuvraj Singh, and Ben Cutting)

Suryakumar Yadav needs to convert his starts into big ones ( Image Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI

This has been a problem of MI this season - their middle order hasn't really stepped up and performed and there is no single half-century score in the last 3 games from any middle order batsman.

In at number 3 will be Suryakumar Yadav. Yadav looked good against KXIP when he hit his first two bowls for boundaries, but he wasn't able to go on and convert his start into a big score and that is something he will be looking to rectify against CSK.

In at number 4 will be Yuvraj Singh. Yuvraj has looked in good touch so far in this IPL, but he wasn't great against KXIP. CSK have a lot of spinners in their ranks and Yuvraj is brilliant against spin, so, he would be looking forward to Wednesday.

In at number 5 will be Ben Cutting. Kieron Pollard hasn't been performing for MI for quite some time now and this may the game where he will be dropped. Cutting is an able replacement for Pollard as he can also strike the ball very hard and the Australian can also ball a bit.

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#3 All-rounders ( Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya)

Hardik Pandya has to improve his bowling (Image Courtesy: IPLT20)BCCI)

Hardik Pandya has been in good nick with the bat and he scored another quick 31 against KXIP off just 18 balls, but his bowling has been letting him down a bit. Pandya was brilliant with the ball for MI last year, but this year he has been leaking runs and he needs to find his form with the ball.

It's the opposite with Hardik's elder brother Krunal Pandya as Krunal has been good with the ball, but he has been throwing his wicket away with the bat. He has been striking the ball very well, but he is getting out at the wrong time for MI. That said, his economical spells in the middle overs have been important for MI and at the Wankhede against CSK, he has to be at his very best.

Both Pandya brothers are indispensable to this MI side as they add a lot of quality, but they have to pick their form up, both with the bat and ball.

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#4 Bowlers ( Mayank Markande, Lasith Malinga, Mitchell McClenaghan, and Jasprit Bumrah)

Jasprit Bumrah needs to be at his best against CSK ( Image Courtesy: IPLT20/BCCI)

In at number 8 will be Mayank Markande. Markande bowled just the one over against KXIP and he gave away 12 runs. He was bowling a bit short in his last game and he needs to get his lengths right against CSK as they have some very good players against spin.

In at number 9 will be Mitchell McClenaghan. McClenaghan bowled his 4 overs for 35 runs against KXIP, but he couldn't pick up a wicket. The New Zealander is in this MI side to pick wickets with the new ball and he needs to start doing that as once Jason Behendroff returns to MI, McClenaghan might find his place in the starting XI threatened.

In at number 10 will be Lasith Malinga. Malinga has been bowling really well for MI and his two overs in the power play were excellent against KXIP. The Sri Lankan legend needs to be at the top of his game against CSK as they have some very hard hitters in their lineup.

In at number 11 will be Jasprit Bumrah. After his heroics against RCB, Bumrah faltered a bit against KXIP. But Bumrah continues to be a match winner for MI and Rohit would be hoping that his best bowler is up to the mark against CSK.

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