How would you define the team which goes up and wins the league, then keeps on losing to finish in the bottom half next season, then win again and then lose again to finish in the bottom half? That is Mumbai Indians‘ journey.
There aren’t as many difficult things as supporting Mumbai Indians. Based out of the commercial capital of India, a city of nearly 15 million, they are among the most followed team of IPL and the most successful team with five IPL trophies in their locker. With the catchment area of India’s finest cricket-producing fields, MI are perennially slow starters; Rohit doesn’t like this tag, but there isn’t anything he can do to change it. It’s like setbacks are the fuel to their engines and after a few stuttering defeats, the team performs like a well-oiled machine. Will this be another season to go down or just another season of peaking at the right time?
Needless to say, MUMBAI INDIANS has begun poorly. Having lost all three matches, they are languishing at the bottom of the table
Needless to say, MI has begun poorly. Having lost all three matches, they are languishing at the bottom of the table and still searching for a winning combination with only a few players looking apt for their role. Rohit, with the additional burden of being India’s captain, has plenty to think about.
Mumbai has many plunging holes this time around, which are evidently visible post their results. They don’t really seem to have firepower in their bowling department, whereas batting is missing the reliability of Quinton at the top of the order. Out of all the season, this team’s bowling looks weakest on paper and has had a difficult few weeks. MI is also missing some flamboyance with Hardik and Krunal moving to different teams and they have been unlucky with tosses as well. MI has been poor in the powerplay: batting and bowling both, which has been the primary cause of their losses. Daniel Sams was mediocre even last year, and Rohit needs to evaluate his options before sticking with Sams.
But, there have been many positives as well which deserve to be mentioned. Tymal Mills has bowled brilliantly in the powerplay as well as at death. Youngster Ishan Kishan along with Tilak Verma has shown promise and with ever-reliable Bumrah, they do have the team to compete. Rohit hasn’t performed as per his standards but which means he is due for something big and Surya Kumar Yadav is back from injury. And these big names would make them the least favorite opposition to face by all other IPL teams but is this year for the sixth trophy or another trophyless season?
Mumbai Indians may be accustomed to the scenario, but it does seem like an uphill mountain to climb. Rohit, though is set with his ammunition, and it would be time before we see them rising again. With teams shuffling and many surprises that viewers received during the auction, IPL Season 15 is going to be an unpredictable season.
