Probable XI –
Mumbai Indians –
Chris Lynn, Rohit Sharma (C), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan (WK), Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Nathan Coulter-Nile/Adam Milne
Royal Challengers Bangalore –
Virat Kohli (C), Mohammed Azharuddeen/ Devdutt Padikkal, AB de Villiers (WK), Glenn Maxwell, Rajat Patidar/Suyash Prabudessai, Daniel Christian, Washington Sundar, Kyle Jamieson, Mohammed Siraj, Navdeep Saini, Yuzvendra Chahal
Small League Combination 1 –
1. Ab De Villiers(VC)
2. Ishan Kishan
3. Virat Kohli
4. Chris Lynn
5. Suryakumar Yadav
6. Daniel Christian
7. Glenn Maxwell
8. Hardik Pandya(C)
9. Trent Boult
10. Jasprit Bumrah
11. Yuzvendra Chahal
– Hardik might be a good punt captain as he’s expected to bat at middle order and bowl full a couple of overs too.
– Ab De Villiers looks safest VC choice considering his one down batting and average of 45 with the bat in 22 H2H matches.
– Dropped Rohit as he has failed to score runs during the inaugural game of MI from the last couple of seasons.
– Lynn might be a good punt especially while batting first as he has scored runs at an average of 37 in 7 H2H matches.
– Surya & Kishan have done well against RCB in H2H matches which makes them good picks.
– Daniel Christian will be another good punt as he’s expected to bat at middle order and bowl a couple of overs too.
– Boult & Bumrah are must picks have bagged wickets at an average of below 24 in H2H matches.
– Expecting a couple of wickets from Chahal especially while bowling second considering his average of just 21 in 13 H2H games & spin favored pitch.
Small League Combination 2 –
1. Ab De Villiers
2. Virat Kohli
3. Rohit Sharma(VC)
4. Suryakumar Yadav
5. Glenn Maxwell(C)
6. Washington Sundar
7. Kieron Pollard
8. Krunal Pandya
9. Mohammad Siraj
10. Jasprit Bumrah
11. Yuzvendra Chahal
– Maxwell might be another captain pick as he can score big by batting at two down and get to bowl a couple of overs too.
– Taking punt on Rohit as he might look to makeup for his bad record of failing to score runs in inaugural matches.
– Going heavy on spinners as pitches at chennai have favoured them a lot.
– Pollard can score quick 30-40 runs if 1-2 top order batters departs early.
– Sundar and Pandya might be good punts as they’re expected to bowl at least two overs & bat at 4-5 down.
Grand League Combination –
1. Ab De Villiers
2. Rajat Patidar(C)
3. Suryakumar Yadav
4. Chris Lynn
5. Glenn Maxwell
6. Washington Sundar
7. Kieron Pollard
8. Krunal Pandya(VC)
9. Yuzvendra Chahal
10. Mohammad Siraj
11. Rahul Chahar
– Expecting a good knock from Patidar if both the opening batters departs early. He scored 96 runs off just 45 balls during a recently concluded practice game.
– Going heavy on RCB as Mumbai is on a loosing streak in the inaugural game from the last 7 years.
– Krunal can score decent runs at down the order and get a couple of wickets too at this spin favored pitch.
– Dropped Virat as he hasn’t been much consistent against MI.
– Expecting a couple of wickets from Siraj especially while bowling first.
