IPL 2019, Match 9: Mumbai Indians' strongest playing XI against Kings XI Punjab

Mumbai Indians are all set to face Kings XI Punjab on March 30, 2019, at Mohali. Both these teams come into this match on the back of different results. While MI beat RCB in the last-ball thriller, KXIP lost to KKR in a high scoring match.

Rohit Sharma made quite a few changes for the match against RCB, and all of them worked very well. Mayank Markande came in for the teenager Rashik Salam, while the veteran MI legend, Lasith Malinga came in for Ben Cutting.

MI clearly had a better and balanced team against RCB as Rohit had 6 bowling options to choose from and they also batted very deep. Their combination against KXIP will be interesting to see.

So, without further ado, here is MI's strongest XI to face KXIP on Saturday:

---

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

Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma have looked good at the top of the order for MI (Picture courtesy: BCCI/iplt20.com)

MI is expected to go with the same openers as both Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma gave MI a brilliant start against RCB.

The opening duo added 52 runs in the power play against RCB. In the match, Rohit scored 48 runs, while de Kock scored 23 runs on a brilliant batting wicket at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The wicket at Mohali is again expected to be a batting beauty and both of them will be looking forward to stitching together a good opening stand.

Both Rohit and de Kock have looked in good touch and both of them have got starts in the two matches that MI have played, but they just haven't been able to play long innings and that is something they would be looking to rectify against KXIP.

#2. Middle Order (Suryakumar Yadav, Yuvraj Singh and Kieron Pollard)

Yuvraj Singh has been looking in great touch this IPL (Picture courtesy: BCCI/iplt20.com)

In at number 3 will be Suryakumar Yadav. Yadav played a crucial knock of 38 runs against RCB and he was timing the ball very sweetly. But, just like Rohit and de Kock, he wasn't able to capitalize on his start and that left MI in a lot of bother against RCB. The Mumbai lad will also be looking to play a big inning against KXIP.

In at number 4 will be Yuvraj Singh. Against RCB, the southpaw again showed flashes of his old self. He hit Yuzvendra Chahal for 3 consecutive sixes in typical Yuvraj fashion, but he got caught out while trying to hit the fourth. Yuvi is looking in brilliant form right now and so he becomes an automatic pick against KXIP.

In at number 5 will be Kieron Pollard. The big man faltered against RCB, but it is expected that Rohit will still back the West Indian as he is a match winner on any given day. Moreover, he is a brilliant fielder and a potential bowling option for MI.

#3. All Rounders (Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya)

Hardik Pandya is an indispensable part of Mumbai Indians (Picture courtesy: BCCI/iplt20.com)

In at number 6 will be Hardik Pandya. Hardik was back to his best in batting terms against RCB. His swashbuckling knock of 32 runs off just 14 balls helped MI finish strongly in the first innings. While bowling, he gave away a few runs at the death, but that is expected on grounds like the Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Hardik would be hoping to improve his death bowling and Rohit should be contemplating on batting him a bit higher up the order. The Mohali wicket will suit Hardik's batting style and the all-rounder will be looking forward to the match against KXIP.

In at number 7 will be Hardik's brother, Krunal Pandya. Although the elder Pandya faltered with the bat against RCB, his economical spell in the middle overs against RCB was very important in the bigger scheme of things. The Pandya brothers are indispensable to this MI unit and both of them have looked in good form.

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

Jasprit Bumrah, the best death bowler in the world (Picture courtesy: BCCI/iplt20.com)

In at number 8 will be Mayank Markande. The leggie was brilliant against RCB. He picked up the wicket of Parthiv Patel and had a catch dropped by Yuvraj off the first ball that he bowled to AB de Villiers. The leg spinner is MI's X-Factor and he will definitely play against KXIP.

In at number 9 will be Mitchell McClenaghan. McClenaghan didn't bowl very well against RCB as he bowled just 2 overs and gave away 24 runs. However, he is too good a bowler to be missed out. Rohit clearly loves to have the lanky New Zealand pacer in the lineup and he is expected to play against KXIP.

In at number 10 will be Lasith Malinga. Malinga was involved in a controversial decision against RCB, but that doesn't take away the fact that his last over against RCB was top notch. Rohit and MI would be delighted to have him in the ranks and his experience only helps this side.

In at number 11 will be Jasprit Bumrah. Against RCB, he proved again that he is one of the best death bowlers in the world. He gave away just 5 runs in his 2 overs at the death. Bumrah is a game changer for MI and he would be hoping to do the same against KXIP.