In the IPL 2025, Aakash Chopra believes the Mumbai Indians (MI) can routinely score high totals, particularly at home. He pointed out that following the IPL 2025 auction, the five-time champions had put up a potent batting team. Before the auction, Mumbai Indians (MI) kept four outstanding batters: Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma.
Their primary batting purchases at the auction were Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, Naman Dhir and Robin Minz. With a meagre budget of INR 45 crore, MI made some calculated acquisitions of spinners Mitchell Santner and Karn Sharma and significant investments in untested all-rounder Naman Dhir and seasoned New Zealand bowler Trent Boult.
Mumbai Indians (MI) spent INR 75 crore of their INR 120 crore total budget to keep Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma. The squad addressed several needs at the auction, including strengthening their bowling department, as evidenced by the expensive purchase of Deepak Chahar for INR 9.25 crore in addition to Boult.
Mumbai Indians (MI) Have A Deep Batting Line-Up – Aakash Chopra
The former India opener expressed his belief that the Mumbai Indians can bat aggressively and score enormous sums of money in the 2025 Indian Premier League, particularly at the typically batting-friendly Wankhede Stadium, in a video posted on his YouTube account, “Aakash Chopra.”
“Check the batting order and say ‘Waah, waah, waah’. They can play a different brand of cricket at home. They can go till 230-240 every time. Who will open with Rohit Sharma? There are two options. They can open with Will Jacks or Ryan Rickelton can be played. Two XIs will be made. If Ryan Rickelton plays, Mitchell Santner won’t be able to play, and vice versa. Then Robin Minz will be the keeper,” he said
“I am starting with Will Jacks alongside Rohit Sharma. After that, you have Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya, and you will have to install Naman Dhir somewhere in the middle. After that, Robin Minz and Mitchell Santner will come. This batting order is terrific, dangerous, explosive, exciting and entertaining,” he observed.
At the most recent auction, Will Jacks and Naman Dhir were purchased by the Mumbai Indians (MI) for ₹5.25 crore each. For ₹1 crore, they signed Ryan Rickelton, and they used the remaining funds primarily to purchase bowlers.
“I see only one problem there – a problem of plenty in terms of top-order batters. There are many incredible batters, but all will look good in the top four. Rohit Sharma, Will Jacks, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Naman Dhir and Ryan Rickelton are all top-order batters, and would you like to send even Hardik Pandya below No. 4?” he said.
However, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that Mumbai Indians (MI)’s top-order batters could even finish the game.
“So that is the only concern when I see the batting. All will be keen to play in the top four but everyone won’t be able to. So a couple of people will have to bat slightly out of position, or it could also happen that since the quality is so good, their top order might actually be their finishers also,” Chopra observed.
In the 2025 Indian Premier League, Hardik Pandya is probably going to be the Mumbai Indians’ finisher. If Ryan Rickelton is not included in the starting lineup as a wicketkeeper-batter, he may have Robin Minz as a companion. Mumbai Indians (MI) will look to back their young talent as they have been doing over the years.
It will be interesting to see how Mumbai Indians (MI) setup as a team in the upcoming Indian Premier League in March, 2025.
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