MUMBAI, March 31: A batting line-up dotted with power-hitters coupled with a solid pack of death bowlers make five-time champions Mumbai Indians a formidable unit in the upcoming IPL.
But the absence of quality spinners could hurt them in pursuit of a hat-trick of title wins. Here is a look at what works and what doesn’t for the outfit led by Rohit Sharma, which opens its campaign by taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore in Chennai on April 9.
STRENGTHS
After lifting the trophy in 2019, Mumbai once again won in 2020 when the lucrative league was shifted to UAE due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The win was built on the team’s strength – their core has remained the same over the years and this is one of the biggest reasons for the side’s dominant run.
MI’s batting is their biggest strength and they possess a solid opening duo in the form of skipper Rohit Sharma and South African Quinton De Kock, and if needed, have an option in Australian hard-hitting batsman Chris Lynn.
The ever-improving Suryakumar Yadav, young Ishan Kishan, both of whom starred on their India debuts, the Pandya brothers – all-rounders Hardik and Krunal – and West Indian Kieron Pollard, make for a very strong middle-order.
On the fast bowling front, the team possesses one of the finest in Jasprit Bumrah, and the India pacer would be raring to go once again after a break from the game.
Last season’s new addition, New Zealand’s Trent Boult proved his worth by taking wickets in the powerplay, including in the big final.
Add Australia’s Nathan Coulter-Nile to the mix and it becomes a superb pace attack.
WEAKNESSES
Their problems could lie in the spin department, which is a bit light, especially on Chennai’s Chepauk track.
Lack of a wicket-taking spinner could hurt the Mumbai Indians’ prospects.
With Lasith Malinga bidding adieu to franchise cricket, MI have been left to fill up a huge void.
Left-arm spinner Krunal, who was taken to the cleaners by the visiting England side in the ODI series, is more of a restrictive option and there is Rahul Chahar, one of the finds of the IPL.
Off-spinner Jayant Yadav played only two matches in the last season and it remains to be seen how many games he will get this time around.
Mumbai have roped in experienced leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, but if the team persists with Krunal and Chahar, he could end up warming the benches.
Chawla, for the record, has 156 wickets in the IPL, the third highest for any bowler in the league’s history.
Mumbai have a strong side but don’t have enough replacements for each slot and have relatively young players as their bench strength.
OPPORTUNITY
Given that all of Mumbai middle-order batters are big-hitters, this could give the side an advantage over others, especially while chasing big totals at places like Chennai and Bengaluru.
THREAT
All this might ensure that Pollard will have to contribute with the ball too, and play the role of the fifth or the sixth bowler, depending on the playing XI that is fielded.
Pollard, who has been with Mumbai Indians for a considerable amount of time, is their second highest run-scorer (3,023 runs) after Rohit Sharma (5,230 runs) and has grabbed 60 wickets.
Pollard has also smashed 198 sixes and is the second highest for his franchise after Rohit, who has hit 213 sixes.
The opponents could fancy their chances but MI definitely have the team to go for a sixth title and third on the row.
Squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Adam Milne, Aditya Tare, Anmolpreet Singh, Anukul Roy, Arjun Tendulkar, Chris Lynn, Dhawal Kulkarni, Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), James Neesham, Jasprit Bumrah, Jayant Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Marco Jansen, Mohsin Khan, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Piyush Chawla, Quinton De Kock (wicket-keeper), Rahul Chahar, Saurabh Tiwary, Suryakumar Yadav, Trent Boult, Yudhvir Singh. Mahela Jayawardene (Head Coach). (PTI)
