The Mumbai Indians, who have clinched the IPL title five times, have had a relatively low-key couple of seasons, despite their roster filled with talent. It's been nearly five years since they last lifted the IPL trophy, and with the caliber of players they have, many feel this isn't acceptable. Their quest to change that starts this weekend as they kick off their IPL 2025 season against their long-time rivals, the Chennai Super Kings.

Finishing last with a 4-10 record in 2024 doesn't reflect the true potential of this team, which seems to improve as you look deeper into the batting lineup. Rohit Sharma is set to lead off for Mumbai and is eager for a standout season. He might be joined at the top by either Ryan Rickelton or Will Jacks, but Rickelton's skills behind the stumps could give him the edge to start.

Moving to the middle order, it's nothing short of spectacular. Tilak Varma has transformed from a promising young talent into a genuine superstar over the past year, likely batting at number three. He'll be joined by Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India's T20I team, who may not have been at his peak lately but still has the ability to deliver remarkable performances in T20 cricket.

Hardik Pandya will take the fifth spot as the skipper. Following him at number six will be one of the promising young talents, either Naman Dhir or Robin Minz. MI has a great history of nurturing young players into valuable team members.

The bowling lineup remains impressive, even without Jasprit Bumrah. Although they’re missing the world’s top T20 bowler, MI can rely on strong new-ball bowlers like Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar to make an impact right from the start. To fill Bumrah’s shoes, they might opt for an extra overseas seamer, likely bringing in Corbin Borsch, who also adds some depth to the batting.

In terms of spin, Mitchell Santner will take the last overseas spot, having established himself as one of the top spinners in the game recently. He can also bat, so he might fit in at number seven if needed. Karn Sharma is expected to be the second spin option, but they might also consider Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman, especially on a spin-friendly Chepauk pitch. This could mean they need someone like Raj Angad Bawa for seam support, although Hardik is more than capable of stepping up as a third seamer himself.

MI probable lineup against CSK:

Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (captain), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Karn Sharma, and Mujeeb-Ur-Rahman.

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