With less than two weeks until the much-anticipated cricket festival, fans can expect to be entertained once more in the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League. Gujarat Titans, who won the title in their inaugural season, will face the league’s Lions, Chennai Super Kings.
Hardik Pandya, a long-time member of the Mumbai Indians, had a fantastic 2022 IPL season as captain. On the other hand, this will be MS Dhoni’s final appearance, so expect more emotions than boundaries in the CSK dugout.
Mumbai Indians, the five-time IPL champions, are the league’s strongest team, led by Rohit Sharma. With the additions of Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah over the years, this team had become the best in any league.
Now that the Caribbean all-rounder will not be available as a player for Rohit & Co., as well as the absence of Bumrah from their squad, things are bound to change in this edition. The following is an analysis of the Mumbai Indians for the IPL 2023:
A look at last season’s performance
Mumbai Indians had a forgettable IPL 2022 season, winning only four of 14 games. They finished the season at the bottom of the table. Ishan Kishan, a newly signed player, led his team in scoring with 418 runs in 14 matches. He had three half-centuries, the highest of which was 81.
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Jasprit Bumrah, on the other hand, picked up 15 wickets in 14 matches, which was an average performance from a top-tier bowler. Kieron Pollard struggled with the bat, and skipper Rohit Sharma was also disappointed with his willow.
The Mumbai Indians, a top-tier team, were at their worst last season, but the franchise knows how to make a strong comeback in the big tournament. They will miss the services of Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya, but it is time for new players to step up and win the sixth title.
New signings ahead of the 2023 IPL season
The Mumbai Indians have always preferred Australian players. Even in the 2023 IPL auction, the management went for top Australian players like Cameron Green and Jhye Richardson. Green was given Rs. 17.5 crores by the team management, while Richardson was given Rs. 1.5 crores.
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Not only these two, but Tim David has also been a regular member of the Mumbai Indians’ starting XI. If Green and Richardson make the final XI, all three Australians will play together, along with Archer, who will be the squad’s fourth foreign player.
Apart from foreign players, Piyush Chawla was another well-known character who was acquired by the most powerful franchise. Apart from the leggie, the Mumbai Indians also acquired Duan Jansen, Nehal Wadhera, Raghav Goyal, Shams Mulani, and Vishnu Vinod.
Predicted Starting XI
Ishan Kishan, Cameron Green, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma ©, Tilak Verma, Tim David, Hrithik Shokeen, Piyush Chawla, Jhye Richardson, Jofra Archer, Arjun Tendulkar
Strengths
In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer will be the squad’s most potent weapon. Archer was drafted last season but was unable to play due to injury. However, his return this season would benefit Mumbai’s bowling attack.
On the batting front, Ishan Kishan will be crucial for the team, along with Suryakumar Yadav, who has excelled in the shortest format of the game. If Mumbai Indians are to make it big this season, SKY must perform spectacularly. The captaincy of skipper Rohit Sharma is another strength for the team.
Weaknesses
Kieron Pollard’s power-hitting brought back memories for the Mumbai Indians, but the veteran will not be in the squad this time. With Hardik Pandya out, someone must fill the role of a finisher on a regular basis. This side’s weakness is a lack of consistency in big strokes.
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Tim David will be the most effective in this role. Aside from David, Dewald Brewis could be an excellent choice for the role.
The Mumbai Indians have a number of foreign bowlers in their squad, but the absence of Jasprit Bumrah is a major disappointment. They require an Indian pacer in the squad, and Arjun Tendulkar currently appears to be a perfect fit. He, along with Archer and Richardson, can help Mumbai limit the opposition’s pace, but if that strategy fails, MI will be desperate for an Indian fast bowler to bowl on the bouncy Wankhede Stadium pitches.
Season Prediction
Mumbai Indians have been a strong side over the years, winning five titles. The biggest upset for this team was the IPL 2022, but they are known for making strong comebacks. With the addition of Jofra Archer to the playing XI, Rohit Sharma and company should be back to their best.
They also have some quality foreign players in Tim David, Jhye Richardson, and Cameron Green who can turn the game on their own. Overall, MI has a good mix of international and Indian players. This time, we believe they will easily make it to the playoffs.
Also Read: Who is the Godfather or Baap of IPL And Why? (sportsdigest.in)
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