Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has showered praise on Mumbai Indians’ destructive Indian batting line-up. The five-time champions has batters like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma.
MI batters have all the experience under their belt and they will look to deliver the goods collectively. Furthermore, Mumbai Indians also have quality Indian bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Piyush Chawla.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “Their biggest strength is that they have capped Indian players from top to bottom. Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla – all have played for India. It’s incredible if you have so much experience.”
“They have an entire Indian batting lineup. Who has such a destructive Indian batting lineup? They are a batting powerhouse and you expect to do well in all conditions with so many Indian batters,” the former India opener added.
Barring Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians have bowlers like Gerald Coetzee, Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, and Akash Madhwal. MI has named Kwena Maphaka as Dilshan Madushanka’s replacement as the Sri Lankan seamer has been ruled out with an injury.
“This team has a solid pace attack because they have Jasprit Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka will become available, Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, and Akash Madhwal,” he stated.
The renowned commentator highlighted that Mumbai Indians also have decent backup fast bowlers in their squad.
“They do have a lot of fast-bowling options available. They have Arjun Tendulkar as well. There is Luke Wood, who has come in place of Jason Behrendorff. So, if you see their batting lineup and the Indian component in that, and then their fast-bowling department, put huge tick marks of strengths on both of them,” Chopra noted.
Mumbai Indians will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against Gujarat Titans at their home ground of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on March 24.
