Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has picked the Mumbai Indians’ (MI) probable playing combination for their IPL 2026 match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). He added that while Quinton de Kock should replace the potentially unavailable Rohit Sharma, Deepak Chahar and Raghu Sharma should come in at Trent Boult and Mayank Markande’s place as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “The biggest question is what will be the XI if Rohit isn’t there. Will Jacks is also not there. So Ryan Rickelton with Quinton de Kock. You will have to open with two left-handed South Africans. Then I am giving names, you can correct the batting order. Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford and Naman Dhir.”
“Give Sherfane a slightly bigger role because he has form. Naman Dhir and Tilak Varma have shown no signs of form thus far. Suryakumar Yadav is also blowing hot, blowing cold, and Hardik Pandya hasn’t played a match-winning knock,” he shared.
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“If I have played Rickelton and De Kock at the top, there will be no place for Trent Boult. After that, you can keep Mitchell Santner, followed by Deepak Chahar and Shardul Thakur. I would say play Raghu Sharma, and then Jasprit Bumrah. I won’t be able to make a place for Mayank Markande,” Chopra again added.
However, Aakash Chopra also stated that Jasprit Bumrah can’t be blamed for his wicketless run in IPL 2026 thus far.
“Bumrah hasn’t picked up a wicket thus far, but it’s not his mistake. So many runs are conceded in the overs around him that Bumrah is unable to pick up wickets. That is the sad reality of life. Since you play him respectfully and play risk-free cricket, that makes it very difficult for him to take a wicket,” he said.
“A lack of confidence is clearly visible, whether you see Deepak Chahar’s two matches or Trent Boult, whom I have dropped, or Shardul Thakur, who picks up wickets but is very expensive, or Hardik Pandya, who was good one day for sure, but generally on the expensive side. Mitchell Santer, again a defensive option. So, overall, this bowling unit lacks confidence and penetration,” Chopra concluded.
Aakash Chopra’s probable MI playing 12 for IPL 2026 clash vs PBKS:
Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Raghu Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah
