Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has picked Mumbai Indians’ predicted playing for the upcoming Indian Premier League 2024. The renowned commentator also backed the Hardik Pandya-led to lift the trophy.
MI, along with CSK, is the most successful team in IPL history with five titles. The franchise has got a potent Indian batting line-up and they will aim to come up with a collective show.
While picking the team’s playing XI, Chopra backed Ishan Kishan and former skipper Rohit Sharma to open the innings.
“Ishan Kishan will be seen opening alongside Rohit Sharma. I feel you should keep Suryakumar Yadav at No. 3 because you shouldn’t send him below that. At No. 4, their new captain Hardik Pandya. I am keeping Tilak Varma at No. 5 and Tim David at No. 6,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The renowned commentator wants MI to back in-form Mohammad Nabi in the playing XI and added the team can play two players from Romario Shepherd, Gerald Coetzee, Nuwan Thushara, and Luke Wood.
“The batting form Mohammad Nabi is in, you can keep him as well. He is an off-spinner as well. Then you can play any two among Romario Shepherd, Gerald Coetzee, Nuwan Thushara, and Luke Wood. Then you have Jasprit Bumrah and Piyush Chawla,” Chopra observed.
Chopra backed Mumbai Indians to get maximum totals of more than 200 as they have a potent batting unit.
“What will be this team’s strategy? It’s very simple as they have wicket-taking fast bowlers and a lot of batters, all of whom are among the best. They are a team that can consistently score 200 runs. I won’t be surprised if this is the team that posts the most 200-plus totals this season,” he elaborated.
“Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Nehal Wadhera, Tilak Varma, Tim David – if you have a batting lineup like that, you should score 200 runs in every game, and 200 should be scored on the pitch they will play seven matches,” Chopra stated.
Mumbai Indians will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Gujarat Titans at their home ground of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on March 24.
