Can the Mumbai Indians successfully defend their IPL crown for the first time? © BCCI
Mumbai Indians do not have a good memory of playing in the UAE. The last time they were there, in 2014, they had lost all four games comprehensively, they didn’t even come close to winning one. But six years and three more IPL titles later, they look more confident, competitive and well-rounded.
Much has changed since then: Jasprit Bumrah has matured into one of the best bowlers in T20 cricket, Rohit Sharma as one of the best captains in the competition, and the discovery and flourishing of the Pandya brothers.
For 2020, they are not even looking for changes to defend their title. Before this season, except for Nathan Coulter-Nile, who was bought at INR 8 Crore, Mumbai spent just INR 3.1 Crore for the remaining five players who bought at auction, all at base price. It was a selfless auction for them. Naturally, why fix equipment when it ain’t broke?
However, in a year of uncertainty and apprehension, there is also much unfamiliarity with this year’s IPL. You have moved to a different country, in different conditions where invisible and unexpected turns await. But it would not be a surprise if the Indians of Mumbai came across familiar people, combinations and schemes that have helped them win titles every alternate year.
None of the purchases they made, except Coulter-Nile, have a real chance of reaching the XI: Prince Balwant Rai, Chris Lynn, Mohsin Khan, Digvijay Deshmukh and Saurabh Tiwary. There is only one significant absent from the contingent, Lasith Malinga, the tournament’s top wicket catcher and bowling mainstay for more than a decade, who even in his decline has created spells to win and change matches. But that’s a place that finds a capable replacement through Trent Boult.
The Indians of Mumbai have shown their letters in the open, just as they had done last year and yet, in the coherence and execution of the plans, they find few coincidences. Even the Chennai Super Kings, who have been better at it and for longer periods of time, have come up short against Rohit Sharma’s men of late. With a similar set of players and support staff, the Mumbai Indians know their processes and drills, and that familiarity in a hastily organized tournament should help them settle in faster than the rest.
However, given that pitches are expected to get slow over the course of the tournament, do the Mumbai Indians really have enough strength in their spin and range department to alter the combination that has served them well all these years? That would leave them with the only possible enigma in the XI. Do they retain the third front-line marker in the XI or do they choose to play Jayant Yadav, alongside Krunal Pandya and Rahul Chahar?
What is your best XI and why?
Rohit Sharma (c), Quinton de Kock (week), Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
There really is no element of surprise here. With the exception of Boult who made it to XI instead of Malinga, it is the same team that played in the final against CSK last year. Mitchell McClenaghan, a longtime third-party for MI, could have some competition in the form of James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile. Or Jayant Yadav could come in to the side as the third player against teams that have several lefties in the higher order.
There is enough depth and firepower in hitting. All the hitters in the middle order can be used as floaters and that will help them counter matchups. The XI has been proficient in handling pressure situations and showed the ability to reappear from extreme positions.
However, the bench is not that strong, which also makes most of the XI players obvious choices.
Bumrah will be crucial for MI in Malinga’s absence. © BCCI
What works in your favor?
There is nothing more envious of the Indians of Mumbai than that middle class who can do it all: Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers.
As batsmen, they can hit the attacks. Even if one of the three kicks in, it’s carnage enough. Pollard and Hardik had more than 180 strike rates in 16-20 overs in 2019. In the recently concluded CPL, Pollard topped the list of strike rates, scoring 204.95 while no other player managed to score more than 150. Playing spin is his strength, and as the pitches get slower, they’re going to play bigger roles with the bat. Also, everyone can float in the lineup.
The bowling pin is possibly your weakest suit. However, everyone can be more than helpful collaborators in that department, especially Krunal Pandya. This season, Pollard could also have a role to play with his mid-pace cutters.
In the field, they are power cables. Mostly edge jockeys, they can cover the field well, make outrageous catches, and have strong arms for shots from deep. With long borders in Abu Dhabi, where they play 8 of their 14 matches, they will have an important role to play.
In the midst of all of that, it’s also easy to forget that they have come together, even in Malinga’s absence, among the best fast bowling attacks of the competition this season. Boult and Dhawal Kulkarni can operate with the new ball, Pattinson and McClenaghan can be the intermediate executors with their lengths, Coulter-Nile is a specialist in death overs and Bumrah can skillfully throw in each of the three phases. Besides all this, they also have the services of Hardik Pandya.
What doesn’t work in your favor?
When playing the flat tracks of Wankhede, Mumbai Indians have not traditionally relied on effects. However, with just three venues in the United Arab Emirates hosting all of this year’s IPL matches, the tracks are expected to tire faster and the reliance on spinners will be greater as the tournament progresses. At Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar and Jayant Yadav, they have all the bases covered but not of the highest quality. They have historically used spin as a defensive option to build pressure in the middle stages of innings. In Rahul Chahar (ER 6.55) and Krunal Pandya (ER 7.17), they have two very good defensive spinners, while Jayant Yadav can get into the XI against higher left orders.
Even its backup resources, except for foreign pacemakers, are weak. So if any of the other players, especially the hitters, are injured or unavailable due to unforeseen events, they will need a massive recalibration of plans. The bank lacks experience and quality.
Malinga’s withdrawal also leaves Mumbai Indians with no great options in death. Coulter-Nile is one who could partner with Bumrah in death, but none of his other new ball specialists have had decent savings in the recent period in IPL: Boult (ER 10.45), McClenaghan (ER 9.26) and Kulkarni (ER 10.57). ).
Opportunity
For the past several years, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan, both graceful coup makers, have played a significant role for the Mumbai Indians and yet have been overshadowed by the heroic deeds of their more established teammates. One has been on the Indian domestic circuit for nearly a decade, while the other is a promising young talent, neither of whom has yet reached the heights they promised. This year, however, on the slow trails of the United Arab Emirates, they will have to bring out the best in themselves. It is one more opportunity for them to press for their highest laurels.
© Cricbuzz
