IPL 2023 Best Playing 11 for Mumbai Indians (MI)
The loss of Jasprit Bumrah in focus as we look at the confirmed playing 11 for Mumbai Indians (MI) for IPL 2023.
The most successful franchise in the history of IPL, the Mumbai Indians are expected to suffer a huge blow ahead of IPL 2023. Nothing seems to be going right for them since last year. After finishing in the tenth position in IPL 2022, Mumbai Indians were expected to make a strong comeback with the return of Jofra Archer alongside Jasprit Bumrah.
But as luck would play a part, it seems we would be unable to see the hottest fast bowling pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Jofra Archer play together. Bumrah, who has been out of Cricketing action for almost 4 months now is yet to recover from a back injury. Given the seriousness of the injury, he is expected to undergo surgery, which would keep him out of action for another 5-6 months.
This is a big blow to the Mumbai Indians camp, who are already with a depleted bowling line-up with the lack of quality Indian bowlers. Without Bumrah, MI hardly have any quality Indian bowler. The best they have is Piyush Chawla, who is already in the retirement stage. They have nothing but overseas bowlers to fall back upon.
So, in this article, we explore the strongest and different playing 11 options that Mumbai Indians (MI) can explore for IPL 2023. Before that, let’s look at the official squad and players list for MI for IPL 2023. Meanwhile, as per the leading IPL betting website, Mumbai Indians have odds at 4.5 to win the IPL 2023.
IPL 2023: Official Squad for Mumbai Indians (MI)
Batters: Dewald Brevis (o), Rohit Sharma (c) & Suryakumar Yadav
WKs: Ishan Kishan, Tristan Stubbs (o) & Vishnu Vinod
All-rounders: Arjun Tendulkar, Arshad Khan, Cameron Green (o), Duan Jansen (o), Hrithik Shokeen, Jofra Archer (o), Nehal Wadhera, Ramandeep Singh, Shams Mulani, Tilak Varma & Tim David (o)
Bowlers: Akash Madhwal, Jason Behrendorff (o), Jasprit Bumrah, Jhye Richardson (o), Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla & Raghav Goyal
Total Players: 24
Best Playing 11 for Mumbai Indians
Openers: Rohit Sharma & Ishan Kishan
This is one area which seems completely sorted for Mumbai Indians. MI have two strong options in the form of Captain Rohit Sharma and wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan. Not only are they the best available options for Mumbai Indians but they are also one of the best opening pairs for IPL 2023. With a slightly thin lower-order, expectations would be high from them for IPL 2023.
Middle-order: Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav & Tilak Varma
The middle-order is another where Mumbai Indians score big. The addition of explosive Cameron Green to World number 1 T20I batter, Suryakumar Yadav makes this Middle-order a treat to watch. What’s more, Mumbai Indians have an anchor Tilak Varma sandwiched between these two aggressive players and Tim David, who should play at 6.
More importantly, all eyes would be on Suryakumar Yadav, who has taken the T20 World by storm in the last year or so. Not only has he been consistent but he has also been belligerent in his approach. It would not be an understatement, but SKY has been the most impressive T20I batter in the history of T20I cricket. It would be interesting to see how he translates his T20I performance to IPL.
Lower-order: Tim David & Arshad Khan
Coming to the lower-order, Mumbai Indians lack a punch. Other than Cameron Green, the team doesn’t have a solid second all-rounder to fall back to. They do have part-time options in the form of Tilak Varma and Tim David, but are missing a quality second all-rounder. That’s when the likes of Arshad Khan, Jofra Archer, and Kumar Kartikeya will have to play a part.
Ideally, Arshad Khan wouldn’t have made it to the first-choice playing 11. But with the loss of pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Arshad Khan seems to be the best available pacer for them. Of course, Mumbai Indians will look for Bumrah’s replacement, but until then, Arshad is the best available option. Other than being a decent left-arm pacer, Arshad can strike big, if needed.
Bowlers: Jofra Archer, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla & Jason Behrendorff
With Mumbai pitches favouring pace, MI will have to play at least 4 fast bowlers. While Cameron Green and Arshad Khan are the pace bowling all-rounders, Jofra Archer and Jason Behrendorff are the two leading pacers in the squad. Other than these two, MI will have to play the spin duo of Kumar Kartikeya and Piyush Chawla.
IPL 2023 Strongest Predicted Playing 11 for Mumbai Indians (MI):
Rohit Sharma [c], Ishan Kishan [wk], Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Arshad Khan, Jofra Archer, Kumar Kartikeya, Piyush Chawla & Jason Behrendorff
So, that’s about the strongest predicted playing 11 for Mumbai Indians (MI) for IPL 2023 if Jasprit Bumrah isn’t available. Apart from the strongest playing 11, Mumbai Indians can explore the additional playing 11 options as described below.
Alternate Best Playing 11 Options for Mumbai Indians:
#1: Hrithik Shokeen for Arshad Khan for spin-friendly Pitches
While Mumbai Indians shall play 60-70% of their matches on pace-friendly pitches, they would need to bring in an additional spinner for pitches like Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, and maybe Ahmedabad. So, Mumbai Indians can contemplate playing spin bowling all-rounder Hrithik Shokeen for Arshad Khan for an additional spin option.
#2: Jhye Richardson / Duan Jansen for Jason Behrendorff
Among the overseas pacers that Mumbai Indians have, Jofra Archer is the best of the lot. Other than him, Jason Behrendorff is the best available pacer. However, MI can also think of playing Jhye Richardson in place of him or maybe Duan Jansen as the pace all-rounder. Playing Duan Jansen gives firepower to the lower-order of Mumbai Indians, which they are definitely lacking.
#3: Arjun Tendulkar for Piyush Chawla / Kumar Kartikeya
If you look at the history of the Mumbai Indians franchise, they have most often given importance to only 1 spinner in the playing 11. If only one of Piyush Chawla / Kumar Kartikeya plays, then MI can think of playing pace bowling all-rounder Arjun Tendulkar in place of one of them. While Arjun may be inexperienced, he is the best option that MI have from an Indian pace all-rounder per se.
Thanks for reading! What’s your playing 11 for Mumbai Indians (MI) for IPL 2023? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com
ALSO READ: Exclusive: Ranking the Best Pacers of All 10 Teams for IPL 2023
Adesh Kothari is the founder of AK4Tsay1 Cricalytics with over 20 years of experience following Cricket.
Cricket to him is like what Football is to Lionel Messi, Singing is to Lata Mangeshkar, Dancing is to Michael Jackson, and Acting is to Clint Eastwood.
Besides his effervescent love for Cricket, Adesh is an MBA by qualification.
