Opinion
The Mumbai Indians, the team based in the city that never sleeps, have over the past decade established their identity as the most successful side and a force to be reckoned with in the Indian Premier League.
In the past seven seasons of the IPL, the Mumbai Indians have managed to win the trophy four times, more than any other side in IPL history.
However, the team has never defended its title in the past, but things may be different for the defending champions this time around as the team looks extremely well balanced ahead of the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League.
Since the inception of the IPL in 2008, many well known names such as Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya have donned the Mumbai blue and gold. But the team’s success story started in 2013 when Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy of the side from Ricky Ponting mid-season in a surprising turn of events.
Ever since then, there has been no turning back for Rohit Sharma and his men, who after winning the title for the first time in 2013 have gone on to win the league every alternate year since then.
Nonetheless the fact remains that Mumbai have never defended their title, but this year may finally be the time since they have retained much of the winning squad from last season. They even strengthened the side in the trading window, striking deals that brought in some fine names like Trent Boult and Dhawal Kulkarni to the Mumbai Indians camp.
The team had also released ten players from last season, which included big names like Yuvraj Singh, Evin Lewis and Jason Behrendorff. But this ensured that the Mumbai Indians had 13.05 crores to spend at the auction.
Although they had a squad capable of defending the title even before the auction, the Mumbai team owners utilised the remaining money wisely, getting some very good players in the form of Aussie hard-hitter Chris Lynn and ex-players Saurabh Tiwary and Nathan Coulter-Nile. The team strengthened itself in every aspect with adequate back-ups for every position in the playing XI.
The Mumbai Indians are one of the best run cricket teams in the entire world with a lot of planning and thinking going into the team season after season. They have had the most balanced squads for a few seasons with the team management always being able to strike the balance between big names and young players in the squad. This season is no different.
(AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
Experienced batsmen
The team has some of the best batsmen in the league within their ranks. Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock are once again ideal options to open the batting from last season. The only exception is Chris Lynn, who is a clean striker of the ball and brings further competition to the opener’s role. In the middle over they have got some excellent Indian batsmen in the form of Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, who in the past two seasons have proven very effective for the franchise. As a cover for them, the team has got equally effective options in the form of Saurabh Tiwary and Aditya Tare.
All-rounders
The all-rounders in the Mumbai Indians side have played a key role in the title victories in the past and they offer the team luxuries that no other IPL franchise has. In Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers, the team has some of the best players in the position and due to these three the Mumbai Indians batting line-up has great depth. They are equally good with the ball as well. Hardik many times acts as the third seamer in the side and Krunal has already been one of the lead spinners for the side for quite some time. They have plenty of options on the bench as well in the form of young talent Anukul Roy and the latest recruit from the Delhi Capitals, Sherfane Rutherford.
Seam bowlers
This is one department where Mumbai Indians are very well stocked, and no one can beat them when it comes to the quality of seam bowlers they have.
India star Jasprit Bumrah is also Mumbai’s key man. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Jasprit Bumrah again like last season will be leading the seam attack. There is new recruit Trent Boult, who the Mumbai support staff have been long-time admirers of. Lasith Malinga may not be in the best of his playing days but his contributions both on and off the pitch will be handy for the side. The experienced Dhawal Kulkarni will provide back-up to Bumrah while Mitchell McClenaghan and Nathan Coulter-Nile are quality picks to have on the bench, which makes the Mumbai Indians seam unit a tough one to beat.
Spin
The team’s biggest weakness lies in its spin department where it is heavily dependent on all-rounders to do the job. There are not many front-line spinners with Rahul Chahar being the best they have. Krunal Pandya has been doing that job very well over the years and has got some good back-up options in the form of Anukul Roy, Jayant Yadav and Sherfane Rutherford. However, this is one department the team should have strengthened at the auction with some very good spinners up for grabs. Still, it remains to be seen if the other strong elements in the side can cover up for this minor weakness.
Going into the 13th season of the IPL, the Mumbai Indians will be one of the favourites to win and retain the title. They have an extremely balanced squad and an even more experienced support staff at the helm of affairs, headed by Mahela Jayawardene, who has already led the team to two title victories.
The team knows very well that it is way tougher to defend the title than to win it but after three failures in the past, this Mumbai Indians squad looks more prepared than ever to win to the trophy for the fifth time in IPL history.
So will Mumbai Indians defend their title and break the odd-even jinx? Only time will tell.
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