The most successful side in the history of IPL, Mumbai Indians have been crowned champions thrice. For the records, they have secured the play-offs spot seven times in total. Out of which, in addition to the three titles, there were three semifinal losses and a runner-up finish. MI have had a solid core around which the others have delivered performances consistently. With a squad stronger than the previous season, when they were crowned champions, the MI boys and fans will be hoping for yet another successful season this year.
Strengths
Having won the previous IPL, Mumbai Indians would have,in the auctions, planned to get their core back and they have done exactly that. Having retained 3 of them, Rohit Sharma, Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, MI went ahead and purchased Pollard and Krunal Pandya as well. MI will want these 5 players to start from where they left the last season.
Though not the best bowling attack this season, MI come a close second behind SRH. Having decided not to go for Malinga and Harbhajan, MI focused on getting a versatile bowling attack and have done a great job of it. A lot of them are in very good form as well which augurs well for the team. With a lot of options available, both domestic and international, MI’s bowling stocks seem almost close to perfect.
The quality of T20 batsmen MI have in the top six will allow them the luxury to play 2 international bowlers, either 2 pacers or a pacer and a spinner, in case they feel the need to do so. In this case, the bowling attack can be more than a handful for any opposition.
Cummins, Dananjaya, McCleneghan and Mustafizur are the international bowling options available for MI
The Mumbai Indians squad this year is so good that the backup buys in the squad can win a game or two on their own. MI have sufficient backups in all the areas, so an injury or two to some key players would still not hamper MI.
Areas of concern
Mumbai Indians do not look like a squad that needs to be seriously concerned about anything, as they have addressed almost all the areas of the game. If anything, they generally start the league poorly and up their game towards the middle and end stages. If they can take care of this, the chances of MI getting their hands on the title again is very high.
Mumbai Indians squad – IPL 2018
Probable Starting XI: Rohit Sharma, Evin Lewis, Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Ben Cutting, Tejinder Dhillon, Mustafizur Rahman, Jasprit Bumrah, Pradeep Sangwan
Top-order
In Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis, Mumbai Indians have the best opening combo in this year’s IPL. Evin Lewis is someone who looks to tee off right from the first ball while Rohit takes his time. And once Rohit Sharma hits top gear, then he stays there for a while. Both of them should complement each other very well. With Ishan Kishan most likely to play as the keeper batsman, number 3 seems the most suited position for him. With one of the two openers still around and a long list of big-hitters after him, he has the cushion to take his time before he starts getting those big hits in.
Middle-order
Having Kieron Pollard in between the two Pandya brothers makes MI’s batting look really strong. Hardik, Pollard, Krunal, all three are more than capable of winning a match on their own with the bat. Krunal Pandya might be used as a floater by MI, just like last season, where he used to come in as a pinch-hitter to give those quick runs at number three, in case they lose an early wicket. Pollard coming in early, at number 5, gives him time to have a look-in before going after the bowlers or probably more time to cause that much more damage. In addition to their batting, all three can get in a few overs as well. While Hardik and Krunal pick quite a few wickets as well, Pollard hasn’t been bowling a lot lately and is not used much by Rohit Sharma.
Lower middle-order
Having Cutting at number 6 gives Mumbai Indians a lot of flexibility in terms of batting as well as bowling. As Pollard doesn’t bowl a lot, Cutting, with his medium pace, can chip in with a couple of overs when required. Having someone like Cutting at number 6, who does not generally take time to get going, makes MI even more dangerous. Tejinder Dhillon, a left hand bat, is a pretty unknown product. A big-hitter with a T20 strike rate of 150+ should complete the long batting line-up.
Bowlers
Mumbai Indians might use one of the three out of Cummins, McCleneghan and Mustafizur. All three bring in a different dimension to the side, however Mustafizur with his difficult to read slower balls and death bowling, should make the cut in the first XI, atleast in the initial matches. As the tournament progresses, MI might want to try all three just to see who performs better and to keep them ready for the big games. Bumrah, being retained by MI and also one of the best T20 bowlers with an ability to bowl pin-point yorkers, is a definite starter with Pradeep Sangwan completing the XI. Mohsin Khan, a bowler who is similar to Sangwan, might also get a few games at some point in the tournament.
Players to watch out for
Rohit Sharma has been the league’s most successful skipper, having delivered 3 titles in his 4 and half years in-charge. He has been exceptional as a leader for Mumbai Indians and has delivered some match-defining performances with the bat as well. Once he starts to get going there is absolutely no chance of stopping him. He will play a vital role, as a skipper as well as a batsman, for MI.
Chris Gayle’s long-term replacement, Evin Lewis is an absolute sensation in the shortest format of the game. Though not as much intimidating as Gayle, he can match Gayle, stroke for stroke. With a T20 strike-rate of close to 150, Lewis can demolish attacks single-handedly. Playing in his debut IPL season, Lewis would be eager to make a significant contribution.
Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis would open the batting for MI
Kieron Pollard has been an integral part of MI since the third season of IPL. A very consistent player during the slog overs, on many occasions he has been the difference between a win and a loss for them. With an IPL strike rate of more than 145, MI will once again be looking at Pollard to deliver those hammer blows at the opposition.
Under Malinga’s tutelage, Jasprit Bumrah has gone on to become one of the best death bowlers in world cricket. Someone who can bowl yorkers at will, he has developed a great deal in the last couple of seasons. With Malinga not playing for MI this time, Bumrah will lead MI’s bowling attack.
Expected position in the league table – Play-offs, favourites to be crowned champions
MI take on CSK in the season opener on 7th April at the Wankhede stadium. The match starts at 8pm.
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