IPL
Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock [Photo-PTI]

IPL 2020, the festival of India, gets underway on Saturday with arch-rivals Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) facing off in the opener at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium,Abu Dhabi. It will be a lip-smacking encounter between the two most successful franchises in the IPL history with Mumbai Indians set to defend their title. Ahead of the much-anticipated contest let us have a look at how Mumbai Indians can shape up for the contest.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma, Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma during practice session. (Photo: Mumbai Indians)

Mumbai Indians are spoilt for choices in the opening slot. South Africa captain Quinton de Kock and Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma had opened for the franchise for the entire Indian Premier League (IPL) last season. The defending champions also have the option to open with Chris Lynn or Suryakumar Yadav.

However, sidelining all the speculations, the franchise captain at a pre-season press conference confirmed that he will continue to open for the side. Rohit Sharma said that he had opened for the entire part of the tournament last season and will continue to do so this year as well, albeit the franchise will keep all the options open as per the requirement.

Quinton de Kock

IPL 2020, Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings: MI Predicted XI
Quinton de Kock (Image Credit: IPL)

Mumbai Indians head coach Mahela Jayawardene has confirmed that Quinton de Kock will continue to be the opening partner for Rohit Sharma. The pair have been successful for the Mumbai franchise in the last few years. South Africa captain Quinton de Kock has the ability to play cautiously with a healthy strike rate. He along with Rohit Sharma makes for a strong opening pair.

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Suryakumar Yadav

Suryakumar Yadav, IPL
Suryakumar Yadav. Credits: Twitter

Mumbai T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav might not have earned a national cap in the shortest format of the game but his capabilities are well known. Yadav will add fire-power to the Mumbai Indians line-up and can chip in with quick cameos which can up the scoring rate for the side. He is one of the crucial players, if gets going, can help the franchise put up a strong total on board or even chase it down.

Ishan Kishan

Ishan Kishan
Ishan Kishan (Credits: BCCI)

Wicket-keeper batsman Ishan Kishan had initially sealed his place in the Mumbai Indians line-up ahead of Aditya Tare. The primary reason behind his selection was due to his ability to score quick runs. Kishan will be a good choice for Mumbai Indians to step in at No.4 and add to the run scoring tally.

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya [Photo-Getty]
All-rounder Hardik Pandya will be itching to get a slog down the order and contribute valuable runs for the side. He will also be important in the bowling department and can chip in with crucial wickets. Premier India all-rounder Hardik Pandya missed out on the latter part of international action in 2019 due to back injury. He also went under the knife during the period and subsequently underwent rehabilitation period. Hardik Pandya, however, has recovered and trained himself to make a comeback in competitive cricket with the IPL 2020.

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Kieron Pollard

Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard (Credits: IPL)

West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard has been in red-hot form during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2020. He will look to make the most of his opportunity for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2020 as well. Pollard has been one of the crucial members of the Mumbai franchise over the years and if he gets going then he come down heavily on an opposition.

Krunal Pandya

Sachin Tendulkar Hardik Pandya
Sachin Tendulkar, Pandya brotherspose for a photo with the IPL trophy. (Photo: Twitter)

Krunal Pandya has been an essential part of the Mumbai Indians squad and will have a bigger role to play in the spin department for the franchise in the slow tracks of UAE. The Baroda all-rounder much like his younger brother Hardik Pandya owe alot to Mumbai Indians. Coming from the city of Baroda, which has produced plenty of talents, the duo continue to add to their skills in the present day. But belonging from a humble background, the Pandya brothers have faced their quite a few hardships, and overcomed it in style.

Batting in the middle-order, Krunal Pandya has scored 891 runs for Mumbai Indians at an average of 26.20. He has hit one half-century in the lucrative tournament and has a phenomenal strike rate of 146.06. The left-arm orthodox spinner has also picked up 40 wickets at an average of 28.20 with the best bowling figures of 3/14.

Nathan Coulter-Nile

Nathan Coulter-Nile, IPL 2020 Auction
Nathan Coulter-Nile (Credits: Getty)

Australia fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile is fit and raring to go for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020. Mumbai Indians bought Coulter-Nile in the IPL 2020 auction for a whooping amount of INR 8 crore. And the Australian is set to work hard to find a place in the Mumbai Indians bowling line-up. He might well be considered as one of the four overseas players in the Mumbai Indians set-up.

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Rahul Chahar

Rahul Chahar | IPL 2019 |
Rahul Chahar (Image Credit: IPL)

Rahul Chahar will have an important role to play in the spin department for Mumbai Indians. The youngster had impressed one and all with his variations and knack to pick up wickets as well as bowl economically in the previous edition of IPL. Mumbai Indians will expect him to continue in similar fashion in IPL 2020.

Trent Boult

Trent Boult, Mahmudullah, ICC's Code of Conduct
Getty Images
Senior New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult might edge ahead of Mitchell McClenaghan in the opener of the IPL 2020. The latter has much more experience, in terms of playing with Mumbai Indians, but Boult can certainly bring his international experience and success to play.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai Indians
Jasprit Bumrah during practice session. (Photo: Mumbai Indians)

Premier India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah will continue to spearhead the fast bowling attack for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020. His slinging bowling action is hard to be picked up and he keeps his line straight to add woes for the opposition batsmen. It is thus, that he has earned a lot of praise for his bowling from the cricket fraternity.