IPL 2021 Special: The Best Playing XI for Matches in Mumbai

Ravindra Jadeja, the stand-out player as we look at the best performing playing 11 for matches in Mumbai for IPL 2021. 

In our last article, we covered the best playing 11 for the matches in Chennai. If you missed that, please check out here. In this article, we would be covering the best playing 11 for IPL 2021 matches in Mumbai. Overall, in Mumbai, SRH and MI didn’t play any matches. Whereas CSK and RR played 5 each, DC and PBKS player 3 each, and RCB and KKR played 2 each. 

Mumbai offered pitches that were slightly opposite in nature to the pitches in Chennai. While Chennai saw most of the matches ending in low scores, Mumbai saw most of the matches ending in high scores. While Chennai saw Spinners getting more assistance, Mumbai saw Pacers getting more assistance. 

In terms of overall performance, it was the batters who benefited the most in Mumbai. Most of the matches were run feast, and the top order saw some really tough competition. The spinners had a nightmare here, and hardly a few matches saw spinners giving a good performance. The pacers with variations succeeded the most here as raw pace didn’t yield much in Mumbai. 

So, looking at the performance of all the players, what could be the best playing 11 for IPL 2021 for the matches played in Mumbai? Let’s find out in this article. Please note, the selected team combination includes 2 openers, 3-4 middle-order players, 1-2 all-rounders, 2-3 pacers, a minimum of 1 spinner, and a maximum of 4 overseas players. 

Openers: Shikhar Dhawan (DC) and Devdutt Padikkal (RCB)

With 186 runs from 3 innings including a stunning 92, Shikhar Dhawan finished the Mumbai leg as the third-highest run-getter of the tournament. Dhawan’s aggressive mentality at the top was a key differentiator, and he was a prime reason why Delhi won 2 of their matches. In fact, the only match DC lost, Dhawan didn’t do well. 

Devdutt Padikkal played only two matches, but impressed in both of them. He started his Mumbai leg with a flawless century against Rajasthan Royals, and followed that with another attacking 34(15) against CSK. His tally of 135 runs at a strike rate of 201.5 was the highlighting point of his performance. 

Middle-order: Faf du Plessis (CSK), KL Rahul (PBKS) & Sanju Samson (RR)

Probably the best better of the Mumbai leg, Faf finished the Mumbai leg as the leading run-scorer with 214 runs from 5 innings at a strike rate of 140. Barring the first match which CSK lost, Faf played well in all the matches, and helped his side win all 4 of them. 

Flat pitch + KL Rahul is a deadly combination, and KL Rahul’s performance once again shows that. While KL’s approach may have changed in the last two years, his consistency has only gotten better with the responsibility hat on his head. Overall, KL scored a total of 157 runs from 3 innings at a strike rate of 145.4.

Sanju Samson started the Mumbai leg with an astonishing century which almost helped RR chase a high-scoring contest vs Punjab Kings, but followed that with 3 failures before scoring a decent match-winning knock against KKR. Overall, Sanju’s performance was decent with 187 runs from 5 innings at a strike rate of 143.8.

All-rounders: Moeen Ali (CSK), Ravindra Jadeja (CSK) & Chris Morris (RR)

How impressive has the duo of Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja been for CSK this year? They both offer similar attacking capabilities with Moeen up the order, and Jadeja down the order, and both finger spinners. While Moeen scored 133 runs at the top at a strike rate of 150+, Jadeja scored 102 runs as a finisher at a strike rate of 190+. Adding to it are 4 wickets from Moeen and 5 wickets from Jadeja. 

Morris started the tournament facing all the bash of the INR 16 CR. tag, but came back stronger helping RR with their maiden win, and then bowling well in the remaining matches. He ended the Mumbai leg as the leading wicket-taker with 9 wickets from 5 innings at an economy rate of 9. Complementing that was his 48 runs at a strike rate of 154. 

Bowlers: Deepak Chahar (CSK), Chetan Sakariya (RR) & Avesh Khan (DC) 

Coming to the Pacers, there was a tough competition. While Harshal Patel was excellent in Chennai leg, his Mumbai leg too yielded 6 wickets from 2 innings, but it came at an economy rate of 12+. Arshdeep and Chris Woakes too were decent in the three innings they played, but overall, Deepak Chahar, Chetan Sakariya, and Avesh Khan impressed the most. 

Deepak took two 4-wicket spells in 5 matches he played for Chennai. With both match-winning spells, he helped Chennai win 2 matches on his own, which is a good effort. Sakariya, on the other hand, had an impressive debut season so far. He started well taking 3 wickets in his debut match, and followed that with another good spell of 3/36. Overall, Sakariya has taken 7 wickets from 5 innings so far at an economy rate of 8.3, which is a good effort. 

Avesh Khan, to be honest, was the best pacer of the Mumbai leg. In the 3 matches Avesh played, he took 6 wickets at an economy rate of 7.3. He bowled well in all three matches with a superb spell of 3/32 coming against the Rajasthan Royals. Avesh also continued his good impressive in the Chennai leg, and is the only player to represent the best playing 11 from the matches from both the cities. 

IPL 2021: The Best Playing XI for Matches in Mumbai:

Shikhar Dhawan, Devdutt Padikkal, Faf du Plessis, KL Rahul (WK), Sanju Samson, Moeen Ali, Ravindra Jadeja, Chris Morris, Deepak Chahar, Chetan Sakariya & Avesh Khan. 

Thanks for reading! What’s your best playing 11 for IPL 2021 for matches in Mumbai? Please email your thoughts to business@cricalytics.com

ALSO READ: IPL 2021: Ranking and Rating the Performance of each Team for Mumbai and Chennai Phase

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Adesh Kothari

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.