Former India player Aakash Chopra has chosen the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) probable playing XI for IPL 2025. He also predicted either Tilak Varma or Will Jacks to be their leading run-scorer and Trent Boult to be their highest wicket-taker as well. However, MI retained Tilak for ₹8 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 auction. Jacks (₹5.25 crore) and Boult (₹12.50 crore) were among the eight overseas players they bought at the mega auction last November as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “The playing XI can be made in two ways. The team has to decide what they want to do. One will be Ryan Rickelton with Rohit (Sharma). You can keep Will Jacks at No. 3, although it comes with its own set of issues as Suryakumar Yadav will go to No. 4, Tilak Varma to No. 5, Hardik Pandya to No. 6, and you will get Naman Dhir at No. 7. Then Mitchell Santner at No. 8. There is a lot of depth but everyone, except Rohit Sharma, is batting a spot lower than their spot. I am assuming Bumrah is fit, so you will find Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah after Santner, and you can include a bowler as the Impact Player.”
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“However, if Bumrah isn’t available or you feel you want to do something different, you can open with Rohit Sharma and Will Jacks, then Surya at No. 3, Tilak at No. 4, Hardik at No. 5, Naman Dhir at No. 6 and Robin Minz at No. 7. Then you can go with Mitchell Santner at No. 8, and then three fast bowlers, or else you can play Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Who will score the most runs for this team? I thought Tilak Varma, but if he is batting down the order, maybe Will Jacks. Most wickets? I am thinking Trent Boult because he will play all matches. Robin Minz and Naman Dhir could be the players to watch out for, depending on how many opportunities they get,” Chopra again shared.
However, Aakash Chopra also shared that the Mumbai Indians’ only strategy in IPL 2025 needs to be to play to their potential as well.
“This team should have just one strategy. Everyone should play to their potential and that’s enough. They don’t have to think anything else. That is the kind of team they have picked. They don’t need a strategy as such. Play to your potential and you will be flying. They played almost like 20% of their potential last time, and that is why they ended where they ended,” he concluded.
