Name: Mumbai Indians- Captain: Rohit Sharma
- Head Coach: Mahela Jayawardene
- Home Ground: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Squad members: 24
- Best result: Champions in IPL 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019
You’re looking at the most successful team in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) so far. With 12 editions done, Mumbai Indians have managed to lift the trophy 4 times, something that no other team has managed in IPL history. They are also the defending champs, beating Chennai Super Kings in the IPL 2019 final. They decided to keep the team as unchanged as possible, retaining 18 players for IPL 2020.
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This includes maintaining the same core team they’ve had over the years led by Rohit Sharma, who has 4,898 IPL career runs, third to only Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina in IPL history. Sharma managed 400+ runs in IPL 2019 but he struggled through most of it, scoring only 2 fifties each in IPL 2019 and IPL 2018 as well. Team is highly dependent on him as every time he gets runs, they seem to be in a much better position to win games.
Someone who they can rely on slightly more at the top is Quinton de Kock who was their highest scorer in IPL 2019 with 4 fifties and 529 runs and with an IPL career average of 30+, he’s someone who will be among the runs again, having always enjoyed batting in India. Apart from him, the side retained Sherfane Rutherford and purchased Australia and Brisbane Heat opener Chris Lynn for Rs.2 Crore.
Rutherford got only 7 games in IPL 2019 where he managed a best of only 28* so he may be sidelined again, especially since Mumbai Indians have picked a lot of overseas bowlers. However, Lynn may go on to open with de Kock, which means some high-scoring powerplay scores are expected in IPL 2020 from Mumbai. Lynn was dropped by KKR and he will be eager to prove himself this season, purchased only at base price.
Already having the likes of Mitchell McClenaghan, Lasith Malinga and Trent Boult in the squad, I’d say the team management went on to splurge with Nathan Coulter-Nile, who they purchased for Rs.8 Crore in the IPL 2020 Auction! Now with Lynn and de Kock almost certain at the top of the order, and a certain Caribbean T20 expert Kieron Pollard in the side, we’re left with just one spot for these 4 overseas pacers.
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Malinga picked up 16 wickets in 12 games in IPL 2019 while Boult managed 5 wickets in 5 games and McClenaghan bagged 3 in 5 games. Malinga was the front runner to cement a spot in the side until he pulled out for personal reasons and was replaced by James Pattinson. They also have Indian pacers led by none other than Jasprit Bumrah who is among the top – if not the top – T20 bowlers in world cricket right now. They also retained Dhawal Kulkarni in the side.
However, we’re not expecting Kulkarni to get too many games with Mumbai having a strong bowling line-up as well. They have Jayant Yadav who may not be the initial pick but they have Rahul Chahar in the squad, an up and coming leg-spinner who can be a game changer on his day. Along with him, Krunal Pandya is among their most expensive players who comes in for cameos with the bat and is more than useful with the ball too.
Just in case Pollard isn’t an effective as he’s been over the years for Mumbai, they have a certain Hardik Pandya in the squad who is one of the most electrifying young cricketers in world cricket right now. Sidelined since quite a while due to injury, Hardik will be waiting to get back into action, recently also getting engaged and expecting his first child with girlfriend Natasa Stankovic.
MUMBAI INDIANS SQUAD FOR IPL 2020: Suryakumar Yadav, Sherfane Rutherford, Anmolpreet Singh, Chris Lynn, Saurabh Tiwary, Jasprit Bumrah, Dhawal Kulkarni,
Lasith Malinga, James Pattinson, Mitchell McClenaghan, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Mohsin Khan, Digvijay Deshmukh, Prince Balwant Rai Singh, Hardik Pandya, Jayant Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Anukul Roy, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock, Aditya Tare, Rohit Sharma (C).
This is one of the most balanced sides in the competition. Let’s not forget Aditya Tare and Ishan Kishan as back-up wicket-keepers while Suryakumar Yadav in the top order who is their most consistent batter over the last 2-3 seasons. Mumbai usually takes time to get their campaign running but with a few early wins, they will be tough to beat. Stay tuned to ReadScoops.com for updates on MI’s IPL 2020 journey…
