IPL 2021 MI v RCB: Dream11 Prediction, Fantasy Tips & Probable XI For Mumbai Indians v Royal Challengers Bangalore

In the opening game of IPL 2021, Mumbai Indians (MI) take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Chennai – here are some Dream11 fantasy predictions and tips for the game.

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All eyes are on defending champions Mumbai with their position in the finalists a no-brainer for most pundits, including us at Wisden. While how good their season remains a moot point, the opposite is true for RCB, who have endured criticism for their auction performance this time.

What might help the Virat Kohli-led unit is that they play their first three games in Chennai where the surface helps turn. That does not hold true for MI, though, with the strong middle-order of Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya capable of taking on spinners with disdain.

Head to head record

Overall: MI 19 – 10 RCB

Since 2019: MI 3- 1 RCB

Team record in Chennai

Mumbai Indians: Won 8, Lost 4

Royal Challengers Bangalore: Won 2, Lost 8

MI RCB Dream11 Fantasy tips

Jasprit Bumrah v AB de Villiers is an interesting battle. The South African has scored at a strike-rate of nearly 150 against Bumrah in the IPL, having been dismissed just once. While de Villiers’ record against leg-spin and slow left-arm spin has come under scrutiny of late, he hasn’t been dismissed by Chahar and his four dismissals against Krunal all came before 2019. With RCB having more protection around him this time, de Villiers, despite the conditions is a good pick.
Washington Sundar might be hard done by the fact that Quinton de Kock is likely to miss the tournament opener. With the only other left-hander, Ishan Kishan, being a strong player of spin, Sundar’s fantasy value, despite a possible batting promotion, is low.
Kohli opening the innings makes him a certain pick, while the same cannot be said of Rohit Sharma whose numbers against spin have dwindled. RCB have the slow bowlers to keep Rohit quiet and it is wise to save the extra credits to spend on all-rounders.

Predicted XI and match preview for MI v RCB available here.

While spinners are naturally a good pick at Chennai, what also adds value are bowlers who take pace off the ball. Luckily, in this fixture, these bowlers are all all-rounders – Hardik Pandya and Dan Christian.
Among batsmen, Kishan and Suryakumar are exceptional players of spin and should complement de Villiers and Kohli. Maxwell, another good player of spin also offers value especially since he is likely to bowl too.
Rajat Patidar, if he plays, is a good pick. He made 54(35) & 104(49) in the two practice games that RCB played.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s value is reduced for this game with Mumbai’s middle-order packing serious firepower, but considering the other picks add less value, it’s a decent call to stick by him.