As the Indian Premier League (IPL) gears up for its 18th season, all 10 teams are ready to kick off the tournament with a bang. The first match will see the Kolkata Knight Riders take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore, while five-time champions Mumbai Indians will play their opening game on March 23 against the Chennai Super Kings. But what can we expect from Mumbai’s playing eleven this season? For Mumbai Indians, the biggest concern is the fitness of their star fast bowler, who is yet to be declared fit. Given his injury history, it’s unlikely he’ll be ready for the early matches, having missed out on the 2025 season as well.
Looking ahead to their playing eleven, it’s likely that Rohit Sharma will be joined by England’s spin all-rounder Will Jacks at the top of the order. Alternatively, Mumbai also has the option of Ryan Rickelton to open the innings. The rest of the batting lineup seems fairly settled, with Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and captain Hardik Pandya set to occupy the three, four, and five spots, respectively. At number six, Naman Dhir is expected to bring his explosive batting style to the table, having already proven himself in pressure situations last season.
In terms of bowling, the spin trio of Mitchell Santner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Karn Sharma could be in action on spin-friendly tracks, supported by the pace duo of Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult. Captain Hardik Pandya will likely chip in as the third bowling option, while South African bowling all-rounder Corbin Bosch might also get a look-in on pitches that favor fast bowlers. So, what could Mumbai’s playing eleven look like? Here’s a possible lineup: Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (captain), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Karn Sharma, Trent Boult, and Corbin Bosch/Mujeeb Ur Rahman.