Mumbai Indians Predicted Playing XI vs Royal Challengers Bangalore for Match 54 of IPL 2023
The Mumbai Indians (MI) will take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Match 54 of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, May 9.
Rohit Sharma and Co. are currently eighth in the standings, with five wins and as many losses. Their net run rate isn't great either, but they could move up to third place if they win today.
So could Bangalore, who are currently sixth in the points table. They too have 10 points, but their net run rate is slightly better which means that they're well in the playoff hunt.
The last time the two teams met was at the very start of the tournament. RCB thrashed MI by eight wickets on that occasion, notching up their fourth successive win over the five-time champions.
Mumbai, who are on the back of a loss to the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), will know that they need to get their act together immediately and reverse their dismal run of form against the Royal Challengers.
Here is MI's predicted playing XI for Match 54 of IPL 2023 against RCB.
Note: Playing XIs are bound to vary majorly in IPL 2023, with the introduction of the impact player rule as well as captains having the chance to name their side after the result of the toss is known.
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Tilak Varma missed MI's previous game against CSK with illness. In his absence, the five-time champions decided to field an extra batter in Tristan Stubbs, who disappointed. If Tilak is fit and available, he is bound to return to the fold.
Rohit Sharma batted at No. 3 against the Super Kings, and the move didn't pay off. He bagged his second successive duck and might not be successful against the RCB spinners in the middle overs. While MI might not want to abandon the Rohit experiment after just one game, the skipper's ideal position could be at the top of the order despite his repeated failures.
Mohammad Arshad Khan was another player who failed to deliver against Chennai, but he could retain his place in the side for now. The left-arm seamer has alternated with Arjun Tendulkar so far in IPL 2023, but having only recently made his way back into the playing XI, he could be backed.
So MI might go in with three overseas players once again, with the option of bringing in one of Dewald Brevis and Stubbs. They might also want to bring in a pace bowler if the situation allows it.
Piyush Chawla's spin partner is also yet to be decided. Raghav Goyal went wicketless on his IPL debut, while a left-arm spinner like Kumar Kartikeya could trouble some of RCB's key men.
MI have several combinations and options at their disposal, and only time will tell which avenue they explore.
MI's predicted playing XI for Match 54 of IPL 2023: Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Jofra Archer, Mohammad Arshad Khan, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal.
Impact player candidates: Riley Meredith, Kumar Kartikeya, Sandeep Warrier, Ramandeep Singh, Hrithik Shokeen.