Former India player turned commentator Aakash Chopra said that the Mumbai Indians (MI) can consistently post massive totals in IPL 2025, especially at home as well. He added that the five-time champions have assembled a dangerous batting lineup after the IPL 2025 auction. MI retained four formidable batters – Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya – ahead of the auction and bought Will Jacks, Naman Dhir and Ryan Rickelton at the auction.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “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.”
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“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 further shared.
In the same video, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that the plethora of toporder batters in the Mumbai Indians’ lineup could be a concern.
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“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 again said.
“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,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
