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Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)
Mumbai Indians (MI) are the joint-most successful side in the Indian Premier League, along with Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, they haven’t played quality cricket after 2020 while CSK have added two titles in the last three years. In 2023, MI qualified for the playoffs but failed to make it to the final after losing to Gujarat Titans (GT) in the eliminator match.
Before the 2024 IPL auction, Mumbai traded Hardik Pandya from Titans for the 2024 season and after the massive deal, they removed Rohit Sharma from captaincy and appointed Pandya the skipper of the team. After fetching Pandya, they splurged INR 16.7 crore from their purse and bought eight players in the auction held in Dubai.
South Africa’s young pacer Gerald Coetzee became Mumbai’s costliest buy at the auction, for INR 5 crore. They also got Sri Lanka pacers Dilshan Madushanka and Nuwan Thushara for INR 4.60 crore and INR 4.80 crore respectively. Another notable name MI added to their team is Afghanistan’s veteran player Mohammad Nabi for INR 1.5 crore. Noting the team composition after the auction, let’s do the SWOT analysis of the five-time IPL champions.
Mumbai Indians (MI) Strengths
Ace fast-bowling unit:
Jasprit Bumrah Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Jasprit Bumrah failed to show up for Mumbai in the 2023 IPL edition, due to a back injury. He will make a comeback in MI colours in 2024. The pace bowling spearhead looked disciplined for India in the 2023 World Cup and he will endeavour to take his form ahead in the cash-rich league.
Bumrah will receive the support of Coetzee and Madushanka in the competition. Both youngsters looked extraordinary for their respective teams in the 2023 World Cup. Another youngster, Akash Madhwal will also strive to display his bowling mettle and become a valuable asset for the side. Pandya, who will be seen in MI colours after three years, will also be expected to make a vital contribution to the side, with the ball. Jason Behrendorff is another quality speedster who has the potential to trouble batters with his pace and swing.
Exceptional power-hitters:
MI have some aggressive batters who are known for flexing their muscle and taking quality bowling attacks to the cleaners. Batters Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Tim David are known for playing big strokes. Rohit can come heavily on the bowlers in the powerplay overs while Suryakumar and Hardik will look to build pressure while batting in the middle order. David’s endeavours will be to give the finishing touch with his bat.
Mumbai Indians (MI) Weaknesses
Lack of wicket-taking spinners:
Mohammed Nabi. (Photo Source: Twitter)
MI reserved the services of Mohammad Nabi and Shreyas Gopal to strengthen their spin-bowling unit. However, these two won’t be the best wicket-taking option in crunch situations. Piyush Chawla did his job magnificently for MI in 2023 but he didn’t get enough support from Kumar Kartikeya and Hrithik Shokeen. Chawla will spearhead the spin-bowling attack for Mumbai again in 2024 and he will be expecting Nabi and Gopal to assist him.
Mumbai Indians (MI) Opportunities
In-form new stalwarts:
Gerald Coetzee. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
New in-form players such as Gerald Coetzee and Dilshan Madushanka will look to prove themselves in the MI squad. Both players became popular in the cricketing circles after their World Cup performance. In the 2024 IPL, they will look to justify their prices and reserve their spots in the team.
Golden opportunity for Hardik to prove his leadership skills
In the history of IPL, there hasn’t been any skipper who has won the coveted trophy for two different sides. Pandya has the opportunity to guide Mumbai to the sixth IPL title and break into record books, becoming the first skipper to achieve the captaincy feat.
Mumbai Indians (MI) Threats
Hardik’s appointment as skipper:
Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Hardik Pandya’s appointment as a skipper might cause discontent in the team and can wreak the plans of winning the title in 2024. Old stalwarts Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma might not feel comfortable serving the team under Pandya’s captaincy.
Also check: CSK Team SWOT Analysis 2024
