PREVIEW: On cricketbadger.com over the next few days we preview each of the IPL franchise – here’s our appraisal on the chances of the Mumbai Indians…
Mumbai Indians are the best supported of the IPL franchises and the star names they’ve fielded during the seven seasons of the competition would be the envy of any side.
So it’s a mystery why they’ve won the title just once in 2013. They have added two Champions League titles, in season’s when they were not champions - but that’s modern day sport for you.
The problem with the Indians has been inconsistency - capable of all things glorious one game and woeful the next. The arrival of Ricky Ponting as head coach will add some steel. Ponting is a winner and perhaps 2015 could be Mumbai’s year.
Rohit Sharma’s runs and leadership will be vital
Mumbai were slow out of the blocks. It wasn’t until IPL3 in 2010 that they reached their first final, losing to Chennai Super Kings (CSK), but thereafter they’ve reached the last four each season.
In 2013 they finally lifted the crown, reaping revenge on CSK to win the final. Their defence the following year started with five straight defeats, but incredibly they pulled it around. Captain Rohit Sharma galvanised his troops to take them through to the next stage after a dramatic last league game against Rajasthan Royals.
An early exit in the CLt20 reinforced the fact that the team was not what they needed and a number of changes have been made.
Aaron Finch, fresh from ICC Cricket World Cup success joins and adds extra batting strength at the top of the order.
Pragyan Ojha joins a strong spin attack already featuring Harbhajan Singh and leg-break bowler Shreyas Gopal. And Mitchell McClenaghan of New Zealand joins a pace attack with Josh Hazlewood and Mumbai’s leading wicket taker Lasith Malinga.
GENERAL TITTLE TATTLE
Ricky Ponting takes on the role of head coach and Australians are in winning mood at the moment. He’s not a person to take second best as an adequate return.
Previous record: Champions in 2013, Runners up: 2009. 3rd in 2011, 4th in 2012 and 2014.
THE KEY MAN - Rohit Sharma
Sharma is the second-highest run-scorer in IPL after Suresh Raina. There is a lot of responsibility of his shoulders, but he proved in IPL7 that he thrives under pressure.
ONE TO WATCH FOR - Shreyas Gopal
A leg-spinner who has grooved his action in the fashion of former Indian great Anil Kumble he may well get the opportunity in IPL8 to show the world what he can do. His batting is decent too.
BEST OF THE REST
Aaron Finch could prove an inspired signing
Kieron Pollard is a T20 beast and so often changes a game with his giant bat in a matter of moments. A huge hitter, Pollard has missed just five of Mumbai Indians’ 82 matches in the last five years. His fielding is incredible too for a big man.
Lasith Malinga has 119 IPL scalps to his name which sees him top the all-time wicket-taking charts. He is coming back to form after injury and Mumbai will need those Yorkers at the death to be right on the money.
Ambati Rayudu is one of Mumbai Indians’ most consistent performers. He’s made 1,710 runs from 81 matches over five seasons. If there’s a weakness in the Mumbai squad it’s in the batting and Rayudu will be an important component of any success Mumbai earn.
BADGER PREDICTS
If the Mumbai Indians’ batting fires they can go all the way. We see them in the final.
FULL MUMBAI INDIANS SQUAD
Ambati Rayudu, Rohit Sharma, Lendl Simmons, Aaron Finch, Unmukt Chand, Parthiv Patel (wk), Siddhesh Lad, Aiden Blizzard. Shreyas Gopal, Kieron Pollard, Corey Anderson, Nitish Rana, Hardik Pandya, Aditya Tare (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah. Josh Hazlewood, Pawan Suyal, Lasith Malinga, Marchant de Lange, Vinay Kumar, Abhimanyu Mithun, Pragyan Ojha, Mitchell McClenaghan, Akshay Wakhare, Jagadeesha Suchith.
James Buttler
As the editor of Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author and a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications.
He's unsurprisingly a complete cricket badger!
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