Former India National Cricket Team batter Aakash Chopra has predicted that the former Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Rohit Sharma will rule the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 with his batting performances. Aakash Chopra is currently active on his You-Tube channels making videos on IPL analysis and has huge praises to say for Mumbai Indian franchises especially batters.
Rohit will be entering the marquee tournament with the captaincy burden off his shoulders. He has been replaced as the captain by all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was traded in by the 5-time champions in an all-cash deal. Rohit Sharma is the joint-most successful captain in the history of the league and his sacking as captain didn’t go well with the fans, who slammed the franchise for their move. He led Mumbai Indians (MI) to 5 titles since taking over as captain in 2013.
Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra in a video shared on his official YouTube channel said that Rohit could have his second-ever season of 500 runs in the IPL and help Mumbai Indians (MI) lift the IPL 2024 trophy. It might come as a surprise to many, but Rohit Sharma has scored 500 or more runs only in one season in his illustrious IPL career. In 2013, he played 19 matches and slammed 538 runs at an average of 38.42 and a strike rate of 131.54.
Passion brings aggression as Aakash Chopra opens up on Ishan Kishan as well
Aakash Chopra further said that the wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan would be hungry to deliver with the bat after his central contract snub.
“Ishan Kishan would be raring to go, having not played cricket for a long time and IPL will open doors for him to play more. Hunger can be the biggest driving force. Passion brings aggression. And this team, especially Kishan, will have that passion,” Chopra added.
Notably, Ishan Kishan asked for a break from cricket due to mental fatigue during the South Africa tour in December 2023. After that, the BCCI asked him to participate in domestic cricket but he ignored the directives, which resulted in the governing body punishing him. Meanwhile, Aakash Chopra has also reckoned that the Mumbai Indians (MI) have an exceptionally strong Indian contingent, and due to this reason they will enter the IPL 2024 as one of the favorites to win the trophy.
Mumbai Indians have an entire Indian batting lineup- Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra reckons Mumbai Indian’s (MI’s) destructive Indian batting line up is their biggest strength going into the IPL 2024. MI already had a strong batting line up in 2023. They bolstered it by trading back Hardik Pandya from the Gujarat Titans (GT) ahead of the IPL 2024 auction.
In a video shared on his Youtube channel, Chopra opined that Mumbai Indian’s biggest positives ahead of IPL 2024 is the plethora of experienced Indian players in their lineup, especially in batting department.
“Their biggest strength is that they have capped Indian players from top to bottom. Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Piyush Chawla – all have played for India. It’s incredible if you have so much experience,” he said
“They have an entire Indian batting lineup. Who has such a destructive Indian batting lineup? They are a batting powerhouse and you expect to do well in all conditions with so many Indian batters,” the former India opener added.
MI also have promising youngsters like Nehal Wadhera and Vishnu Vinod in their Indian batting contingent, either of whom can potentially be used as an Impact Player. The five-time champions also have the big-hitting Tim David and Dewald Brevis as the overseas batters in their squad.
This team has a solid pace attack – Aakash Chopra on the Mumbai Indians’ other strength
Aakash Chopra choose Mumbai’s potent seam attack as their other strength
“This team has a solid pace attack because they have Jasprit Bumrah, Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka will become available, Nuwan Thushara, Romario Shepherd, and Akash Madhwal,” he stated
“They do have a lot of fast-bowling options available. They have Arjun Tendulkar as well. There is Luke Wood, who has come in place of Jason Behrendorff. So, if you see their batting lineup and the Indian component in that, and then their fast-bowling department, put huge tick marks of strengths on both of them,” Chopra noted.
Dilshan Madushanka has been ruled out of IPL 2024 due to a hamstring injury. MI have acquired South African left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka for his base price of ₹50 lakh as the Sri Lankan seamer’s replacement. Mumbai Indians (MI) will open their IPL 2024 campaign against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Sunday, March 24, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.