Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra believes Mumbai Indians could bring back Allah Ghazanfar in their playing XI for the clash against Rajasthan Royals. Chopra highlighted that the match-up of left-arm orthodox spinner Mitchell Santner will not suit against the left-handers whereas Mayank Markande hasn’t been at his best in the first two games of the season.

While Markande returned with figures of 0-20 in two overs he bowled against Delhi Capitals, Santner bagged 1-22 in three overs he bowled. Markande had conceded 16 runs in the solitary over he bowled against KKR in the opening game.

“I am very eager to see what would happen with Mitchell Santner because RR have two left-handers at the top and then Shimron Hetmyer comes later. Mitchell Santner, when he was New Zealand’s captain, was himself not bowling against left-handers,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.

“He has a slight allergy, that he doesn’t want to go in that direction, although he is too good a bowler. However, will they think about Allah Ghazanfar because Mayank Markande is the only Indian spin-bowling option, and he hasn’t done that good a job thus far?” he added.

Chopra urged MI to persist with Deepak Chahar and added that Trent Boult can replace Corbin Bosch as Hardik Pandya will make a comeback.

“Hardik Pandya will come and there is a big possibility that Corbin Bosch might be made to sit out, and you might see Trent Boult again. I think that is very, very likely. I would still play Deepak Chahar. He bowled well in the last match,” he said.

However, the former KKR batter reckons MI could drop Deepak Chahar as Trent Boult and Hardik Pandya will bowl with the new ball.

“However, I feel that if Trent Boult plays, they might make Deepak Chahar sit out because Hardik and Trent Boult will bowl with the new ball, and Deepak won’t have a role then. I feel Deepak should be played because it won’t spin much in Guwahati. It might swing a little more, and the ball swung when Chennai played here. They were bowled out for 127,” Chopra observed.

MI will face RR in Guwahati on Tuesday.