Mumbai Indians became the most successful team in the IPL as they won their fifth IPL title in this IPL season. They dominated throughout the tournament as they won 9 out of their 14 games and won the Qualifier 1 and Final to win the trophy. They had such a strong team as they made the fewest changes to their XI throughout the tournament.
At some stages in the tournament, it seemed as if it is impossible to beat them. But there were some individual performers from all teams who can beat them if they come together. So, let’s have a look at an IPL XI from this season that can beat Mumbai Indians.
Openers – KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan
KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan could form a perfect opening combination against any team especially Mumbai Indians. It makes a perfect right-left combination that would help the team’s cause. Both these players scored more than 600 runs in the IPL and have the ability to demolish any bowling attack on their day.
Both these batsmen scored at least one fifty against Mumbai Indians so these two will be the right opening combination in the team to defeat Mumbai Indians.
Middle-order – Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson and AB De Villiers
This middle-order will have a great mix of youth and experience. Shreyas Iyer scored more than 500 runs in this season and played really well in the IPL Final against Mumbai Indians. Sanju Samson had a few off games but still scored a lot of runs and was a part of an important partnership with Ben Stokes where they took on the MI bowlers while chasing 196.
AB De Villiers is just a genius and the way he took on Jasprit Bumrah in their first encounter was brilliant to watch. These three have the correct mixture of attack and defense and hence they would form a great middle-order against Mumbai Indians.
All-rounders – Rahul Tewatia and Jofra Archer
Both the Rajasthan Royals players are more than capable of turning a game with the ball and the bat. We all have seen what Tewatia did in this IPL and so he is a must in a team to defeat Mumbai Indians. He can bowl the middle-overs and can smash a few sixes in the end. Jofra Archer was the Most Valuable Player in this year’s IPL and his bowling in the Powerplay was phenomenal.
Even Archer can smash a few big ones towards the end of the innings. These two formed a great combo for Rajasthan Royals, and so they should be part of the team which can defeat Mumbai Indians.
Bowlers – Rashid Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kagiso Rabada, T Natarajan
This is a bowling attack that looks better than the Mumbai Indians bowling line-up. Rashid Khan had an economy rate of under six in this IPL and he is the best leg-spinner in the World so he would be key to beat any team. Every season Chahal keeps up picking wickets and he will be lethal while bowling with Rashid Khan.
Kagiso Rabada won the Purple Cap as he picked up 30 wickets in this IPL. He knows how to take wickets and that is key against a team like Mumbai Indians. T Natarajan is the new find of this IPL as he bowled some brilliant Yorkers. He can control the death overs along with the likes of Jofra Archer and Kagiso Rabada who are proven, death bowlers.
