IPL 2019: Mumbai Indians' probable playing XI vs Royal Challengers Banglore

Mumbai Indians face the Royal Challengers Banglore on the 28th of March at the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Both the teams lost their first match of IPL 2019. CSK beat RCB quite comfortably, while MI lost their match against Delhi Capitals.

MI and Rohit Sharma made quite a few surprising picks for their starting XI against DC. Picking Yuvraj Singh over Ishan Kishan proved a great decision and also playing the 17-year-old Rasikh Salam over Mayank Markande. MI didn't really have the depth in their bowling attack and they were taken to the cleaners by Rishabh Pant in the slog overs.

Rohit would be looking to make quite a few changes as they face Virat Kohli and company.. MI need to add a bit of depth in their bowling attack as they don't really have options to bowl at the death alongside Jasprit Bumrah.

So, keeping all that in mind, here is the predicted MI starting XI against RCB:

#1 Top Order

Rohit and De Kock will open the innings for MI

The top order wouldn't change much from the match against DC. The openers will be Rohit and Quinton de Kock. Rohit looked good for his 14 against DC and the skipper's form is going to be key against RCB.

De Kock also got a start against DC, but just couldn't kick on. The combination of De Kock and Rohit has the potential to be the best in the tournament and these two need to find their form quickly, starting against RCB.

In at number 3 will be Suryakumar Yadav. He came in at number 3 against DC and he will be expected to come in that position again. He got run out against DC and he will be looking for a better outing against RCB.

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#2 Middle Order

Yuvraj Singh

In at number 4 will be Yuvraj Singh. Yuvi was brilliant against DC and it was a vintage performance from the southpaw. He was selected over the young Ishan Kishan and he did justice to Rohit's decision. He will be looking to continue his form against RCB.

In at number 5 will be Kieron Pollard. The Trinidadian also looked good for his short stay against DC. Pollard was brilliant in the field as well as he took a stunning catch to dismiss Shreyas Iyer. Pollard adds many things to the MI team and he simply has to play against RCB.

In at number 6 will be Hardik Pandya. The all-rounder didn't really have a good outing against DC, both with the bat and the ball. He gave away 41 runs in his 4 overs and got out for a duck. Hardik has traditionally done well against RCB and he would be hoping to do the same on Thursday.

In at number 7 will be Hardik's brother Krunal, who didn't bowl well against DC and gave away 21 runs from his 2 overs. He was brilliant with the bat though, and his all-round abilities will be again put to test against RCB.

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#3 Lower Order

In at number 8 will be Mayank Markande. He didn't play in the first game and that simply has to change. MI struggled to pick up wickets in the middle overs against DC and Markande is a genuine wicket-taker. It was not a very wise decision from Rohit to not pick him as leg spinners are game changers in any form of the game.

In at number 9 will be Mitchell McClenaghan. McClenaghan picked up the most wickets for MI against DC, but he wasn't that great at the death. Nevertheless, the New Zealander has been picked in this side to get wickets and he will look forward to doing that against RCB.

In at number 10 will be Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah wasn't that great against DC. He has developed a reputation of being good at the death but he failed to replicate that against DC. He also injured his left shoulder against DC, but it seems he is going to be fit against RCB. He needs to come back to his best as a lot rests on his shoulders from MI's bowling point of view.

In at number 11 will be Lasith Malinga. MI went for batting depth over bowling quality against DC and that cost them as Rohit didn't have 5 quality bowlers to bowl the 20 overs. Malinga is expected to return to the MI team and his experience will only help Rohit and company.

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