In a recent YouTube video, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan shared his predicted playing XI for the Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of their IPL 2026 match against the Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 7 at Barsapara Cricket Stadium. Pathan highlighted the likely return of Hardik Pandya, who missed the previous game against the Delhi Capitals (DC) due to illness. With Pandya's return, he suggested that Trent Boult could also be included in the squad, potentially leading to the exclusion of Deepak Chahar and Corbin Bosch. Pathan's predicted lineup features Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav in key batting positions, emphasizing MI's strong batting strength. He also expressed concern over Mayank Markande's performance as an Impact Sub, noting his struggles in the initial games. Pathan mentioned the possibility of introducing Raghu Sharma in future matches if Markande does not perform better, indicating that MI is looking for effective bowling options as they aim to improve their standing in the tournament.