Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has selected his top 12 players for Mumbai Indians in the upcoming IPL 2026 match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Mumbai Indians will miss key overseas players, Will Jacks and Mitchell Santner, impacting their team composition, especially in all-rounder and spin roles. Pathan suggests a lineup with Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma opening, emphasizing Rohit’s leadership over his impact as a player.
In the middle order, Pathan includes Tilak Varma at number three and Suryakumar Yadav at number four, with Hardik Pandya at number five for stability and power. Sherfane Rutherford and Naman Dhir are placed at numbers six and seven respectively. Pathan’s bowling strategy features a mix of spinners and pacers, with Allah Ghazanfar and Mayank Markande handling spin duties, supported by pacers Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, and Jasprit Bumrah.
Notably, Pathan excludes Shardul Thakur, indicating a preference for specialist roles in the team. Mumbai Indians, aiming to end their title drought, are eager to perform well in the 2026 season after finishing among the top teams in the previous season.
