IPL 2021, Match 1: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (MI vs RCB) - MI Predicted XI

The record five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) will face Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the opening game of the IPL 2021 which will be played at MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk, Chennai) this Friday (9th April) evening.

Mumbai Indians are participating in the IPL 2021 as the defending champions as they won both the last two IPL trophies (2019 and 2020). While they will target to become the first team to win three consecutive IPL trophies at the end of this tournament, their first target will be to win the first match of the IPL 2021 as they haven’t won their first games of all the last eight IPL seasons.

IPL 2021, Match 1: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (MI vs RCB) – MI Predicted XI

Rohit Sharma (C)

The five-time IPL winning captain Rohit Sharma is looking for a good start in the new IPL season. The fourth-most run-scorer in IPL history and the leading run-scorer for Mumbai Indians, Rohit will try to provide a strong start in IPL 2021.

Chris Lynn

Despite some strong performances for KKR in the 2018 and 2019 editions, Australian cricketer Chris Lynn didn’t get an opportunity to serve for his new team Mumbai Indians, majorly due to Proteas cricketer Quinton de Kock’s great form. But due to de Kock is under quarantine rule during the IPL 2021 opener, Lynn is likely to open with Rohit. It is a great chance for the Australian cricketer as his place can be in danger after the availability of de Kock.

Ishan Kishan (wk)

Since the IPL 2020, Ishan Kishan has impressed with his quality batting performances, who also won the Most Sixes award during the IPL 2020. While his batting played a very crucial role for Mumbai Indians to win the IPL 2020 trophy, he is definitely a very important name of this side.

Suryakumar Yadav

In the last few years, Suryakumar Yadav has highly impressed with his consistency in batting. Recently, he also made a much-deserving T20I debut for the Indian team and impressed with his quality batting performances. Once again, he is going to be a dependable player for the Mumbai Indians in this new season.

Krunal Pandya

All-rounder Krunal Pandya did not have a good time during the IPL 2020. However, he is now in very good form, especially with the bat, who also made his ODI debut in recent times and impressed with his batting performances.

Hardik Pandya

All-rounder Hardik Pandya is now returning to his shape and it can be huge news for the most successful IPL team, Mumbai Indians. Apart from his aggressive batting, Hardik also impressed as a right-arm pacer in the recent home T20I series against England.

Kieron Pollard

Caribbean cricketer Kieron Pollard has recently shown some dangerous form, including smashing six sixes in an over to the Sri Lankan bowler Akila Dananjaya. Mumbai Indians’ second most run-scorer Pollard is always a big name for his team.

Rahul Chahar

The young leg-spinner Rahul Chahar took 13 and 15 wickets in IPL 2019 and 2020 respectively as the young bowler is very consistent for Mumbai Indians. The defending IPL champions have strong faith in this youngster as they haven’t bought any new spinner during the IPL 2021 auction.

Trent Boult

The left-arm New Zealand fast-bowler Trent Boult was excellent in the IPL 2020 as his 25 wickets in 15 games became one of the major reasons for Mumbai Indians’ success in that season, who finished as the third most wicket-taker in that tournament. In the recent international matches, Boult was in great form with the ball in hand.

Jasprit Bumrah

While Boult finished as the third most wicket-taker in the IPL 2020, Indian right-arm fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah was the second most wicket-taker in that same IPL season as he got 27 wickets in 15 matches. As a pacer, Bumrah is in very good form and he will start the IPL 2021 in a fresh way.

Nathan Coulter-Nile

Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile, who played the IPL 2020 for Mumbai Indians, was freshly bought by the same team in the IPL 2021 auction but in a lower price. Though he got only five wickets in seven matches during the IPL 2020, he later impressed in the BBL 2020/21 where he picked up 11 wickets in six games despite facing injury.