MUMBAI INDIANS-BREAKING THE ODD EVEN JINX
Mumbai Indians- the team based in the city that never sleeps has over the past decade established its identity as the most successful side and a force to reckon with in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the past 7 seasons of the IPL the Mumbai Indians have managed to win the trophy 4 times, more than any other side in IPL history. However, the team has never been able to defend the 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 all donned the Mumbai Indians blue and gold but the team's actual success story started in 2013 when Rohit Sharma took over the captaincy of the side from Ricky Ponting mid-season in a very 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 IPL title every alternate year since then. Nonetheless, the fact still remains that Mumbai has never defended their league title but this year may finally be the time when they defend their title since they have retained much of the winning squad from last season. They strengthened the side in the trading window striking deals which brought some fine names like Trent Boult and Dhawal Kulkarni to the Mumbai Indians camp.
The team had also released 10 players from last season which included big names like Yuvraj Singh, Evin Lewis and Jason Behrendorff but this ensured that 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 utilized the remaining purse money wisely getting some very good players in form of Aussie hard hitter Chris Lynn and ex-players Saurabh Tiwary and Nathan Coulter Nile. In such a way the team strengthened itself in every aspect with adequate backups for every position in the playing 11.
MUMBAI INDIANS TEAM PREVIEW
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 teams making season after season. They have had the most balanced squads for a few seasons now with the team management always being able to strike the balance between big names and young players in the squad and this season is no different story.
STRENGTHS:
STRONG AND EXPERIENCED BATTING LINEUP- the team truly 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 with the only exception being 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 2 seasons have proved very effective for the franchise. As a cover for them, the team has got equally effective options in form of Saurabh Tiwary and Aditya Tare.
DEPENDABLE ALL ROUNDERS- the all-rounders of the Mumbai Indians side have played a key role in the title victories for Mumbai Indians in the past and they offer the team luxuries which no other IPL franchise has. In Keiron Pollard and the Pandya brothers, the teams have some of the best players in the position and due to these 3, the MI batting line-up has a great depth in its batting line-up. They are equally good with the bowl as well with Hardik many a time acting as the 3rd seamer in the side and Krunal has already been one of the lead spinners for the side for quite some time now. 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 that is Sherfane Rutherford.
RELIABLE 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. Jasprit Bumrah again like last season will be leading the seam attack with 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 backup to Bumrah while Mitchell McClenaghan and Nathan Coulter Nile being quality picks to have on the bench which makes the MI seam unit a tough one to beat.
WEAKNESS:
1.INEFFECTIVE SPIN DEPARTMENT- 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 frontline 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 backups in the form of Anukul Roy, Jayant Yadav and Sherfane Rutherford. However, this is one department the team must 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 cover-up for this minor weakness.
PREDICTION:
The Mumbai Indians going into the 13th season of the IPL will be one of the absolute favourites to retain the title with an extremely balanced squad and even a more experienced support staff at the helm of affairs headed by Mahela Jayewardene who has already led the team to 2 title victories. The team knows very well that it is way tougher to defend the title than win it but after 3 failures to defend the title in the past this Mumbai Indians squad looks more prepared than ever to win to the IPL trophy for the 5th time this season. So, will Mumbai Indians defend their title and break the odd-even jinx only time will tell.
