"They can go till 230-240 every time" - Aakash Chopra on Mumbai Indians' batting after IPL 2025 Auction
Aakash Chopra reckons the Mumbai Indians (MI) can consistently post massive totals in IPL 2025, especially at home. He noted that the five-time champions have assembled a destructive 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. Will Jacks, Naman Dhir and Ryan Rickelton were their main batting acquisitions at the auction.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener opined that the Mumbai Indians can bat aggressively and make mammoth scores in IPL 2025, especially at the usually batting-friendly Wankhede Stadium.
"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," he said (1:35).
Chopra highlighted the depth and quality in MI's batting lineup.
"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 observed.
The Mumbai Indians bought Will Jacks and Naman Dhir for ₹5.25 crore apiece at the recent auction. They acquired Ryan Rickelton's services for ₹1 crore and mainly concentrated on buying bowlers with the rest of their purse.
"A problem of plenty in terms of top-order batters" - Aakash Chopra on Mumbai Indians' batting issue
![Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma are strong contenders for the No. 3 position in MI's batting order. [P/C: iplt20.com]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/fcd9d-17326798553941-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that the plethora of top-order batters in the Mumbai Indians' lineup could be a concern.
"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 said (2:40).
However, the cricketer-turned-commentator added that MI's top-order batters could even finish the game.
"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," Chopra observed.
Hardik Pandya will likely play the finisher's role for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025. He might have Robin Minz for company if Ryan Rickelton isn't part of the playing XI as a wicketkeeper-batter.