Former India opener Aakash Chopra has picked his preferred playing XI for Mumbai Indians (MI) for their first encounter against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the second leg of IPL 2021 in Dubai on Sunday. Mumbai are currently placed fourth in the IPL 2021 points table with eight points from their first seven matches.

While picking his Mumbai Indians team in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra said that the Rohit Sharma-led side cannot afford a slow start.

He elaborated: “The Mumbai Indians do not have too many problems. Their problem, which was on the Chennai pitch, is no longer there – they just could not get going. Rohit Sharma was batting well but the rest of the batting was just not coming to the fore. The only problem is that they just cannot start slowly.”

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He continued: “Mumbai will have to hit the ground running. You start with Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock as your two openers, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya brothers – that makes it six and then Kieron Pollard – you will obviously send Pollard ahead of them.”

However, the Pandya brothers and Ishan Kishan are likely to perform their best. The veteran also wants Adam Milne to play before Nathan Coulter-Nile as he brings pace in his attack. Moreover, Milne had a successful stint in Birmingham Phoenix’s run to the final in The Hundred as well.

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“You will play Rahul Chahar. After that three fast bowlers who should be spicy, in which you should put Adam Milne or Nathan Coulter-Nile, I am going with Adam Milne – extra pace. Then Bumrah and Boult. I mean this is a perfect side. They don’t have any injury concerns as well,” Aakash Chopra concluded.

Preferred Mumbai Indians’ playing XI of Aakash Chopra:

Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar, Adam Milne, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult