Aakash Chopra predicts Mumbai's auction strategy for IPL, hints at big buys in pace dept

Despite having won IPL 2020 with a formidable squ, cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has pointed out certain cracks in Mumbai squ that franchise would aim to fill with upcoming auctions. franchise has retained almost whole of its squ from 2020 class and released on 7 players while keeping 17 men. With Lasith Malinga retiring and franchise letting go of 3 pacers, Chopra has opined that Mumbai will eye to strengn ir pace battery. 

" interesting thing is that Mumbai Indians have changed ir entire fast bowling attack. Malinga has retired, y have let go of Pattinson who was his replacement and y have let Nathan Coulter-Nile and Mitchell McClenaghan also go," Chopra said in latest video uploed on his Youtube channel.

Suggesting that formidable squ will have to rope in at least two overseas pacers, Chopra said that Mumbai can target Mitchell Starc to form a lethal pair with le pacer Jasprit Bumrah. However, he ded that Mumbai will t be able to acquire Australian pacer. 

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"y can buy Pattinson again but he was very cheap, so y probably have someone else in ir mind. Kyle Jamieson, Jhye Richardson, Chris Morris and Sheldon Cottrell are available. I don't see a very big exciting name. y might take back Nathan Coulter-Nile because he was very expensive," he furr said.

Moreover, Chopra stated that franchise will require backup spinner and one for star all-rounder Kieron Pollard. To fill his suggested vacancies, Chopra highlighted Mujeeb ur Rahman and Krishnappa Gowtham as backup spinner and Shakib al Hassan and Cameron Green as a replacement for Pollard. "y might be interested in Shivam Dube as he is a Mumbai boy. y might want to take him as an all-rounder although ir Indian batting department seems absolutely fine to me. y will t be running behind too many Indian players," Chopra signed off.

RE | IPL 2021 Auction To Be Held On February 18 In Chennai, One Day After India Vs England Test

IPL auction on Feb 18

BCCI has confirmed that  IPL 2021 auction will take place on February 18 (Thursday) in Chennai. As per reports, auction is expected to be a short affair with just one day chosen for event. IPL auction time is yet to be confirmed by board. tably, IPL 2021 auction will take just a day after second India vs England Test that will be played from February 13-17 in Chennai.

Meanwhile, with just months to go for 14th edition of IPL, BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal stated that board has its eyes set on hosting T20 tournament in India after moving it to UAE in 2020 due to COVID condition. With pandemic situation improving in India, Dhumal asserted that BCCI does t feel need to look at a 'back-up' overseas option as well. He ded that BCCI is also working on getting cricketers vaccinated as y continue to play within a bio-secure bubble.

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