Mumbai Indians are the most successful team in the Indian Premier League with four title wins, a huge testament to their years of planning, strengthening of squad and most importantly their ability to manage their resources intelligently.
But can they deliver back to back IPL titles ?
Till now they never have managed to accomplish back to back IPL titles. Their 4 titles all have come in the alternate years – never ever Rohit Sharma’s team could win back to back titles. Can this time Rohit’s team break this huge jinx ?
Mumbai Indians 4 IPL Titles have come in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019. Not even once on previous 3 occasions they could deliver back to back IPL wins. Can they get 4th time lucky ?
On the other hand Mumbai Indians first match opponent Chennai Super Kings is the only team in IPL to deliver back to back title when they won IPL in 2010 & 2011. Their other IPL title came in 2018.
So Rohit and his team this time has an extra challenge at hand – to deliver back to back IPL WINS. According to the cricket experts Mumbai Indians this time has enough firepower in their squad to accomplish the feat.
Be it the top order, raw hitting power of middle order, fast bowling arsenal – they have it all in their squad with a exception of real world class spinner in the squad.
Top Order – Rohit Sharma, Quinton De Kock, Chris Lynn can muscle any bowling attack
Middle Order – Led by Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya they can belt anyone out of the park
Fast Bowling Unit – The best T20 bowler in the world Jasprit Bumrah, one of the fastest Trent Boult and consistent Mitchell McClenaghan
Spin – This is probably the only weak link in the team. Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya can manage things but may not pose threat to opponents.
IPL 2020: The big question, who will open for Mumbai Indians in the opening game against CSK ?
MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings notwithstanding, Mumbai Indians has a welcome headache before the opening game of IPL 2020. Spoilt with choices, the 4 times IPL champions are yet to decide on who should start their innings ?
Should it be IPL 2019 Opening pair of Captain Rohit Sharma & Quinton De Kock ?
Or should the responsibility to start the innings be given to one of the most explosive T20 opener in the world Chris Lynn ?
Should captain and hitman of the team Rohit Sharma demote himself ?
All these questions are doing the rounds in the Mumbai Indians camp in AbuDhabi. According to the sources, team management is yet to zero down on the first choice pair for the opening match of IPL 2020 against CSK on Sep19th.
Armed with one of the strongest batting units, the franchise made some smart selections at the auctions last December by retaining and picking some of the most explosive batsman around. Lynn’s arrival into the MI squad for IPL 2020, the opening slot has widened up to a number of permutations that the team needs to address before IPL 13 kickstarts.
With an abundance of choices for the opening slot in the likes of Rohit Sharma, Chris Lynn, Quinton de Kock, we look at the various permutations at MI’s disposal and the best possible opening pair they can field.
Option 1 – Rohit Sharma & Quinton de Kock with Lynn at number 3
Option 2 – Chris Lynn- de Kock & Rohit Sharma at number 3
Option 3 – Rohit Sharma- Chris Lynn & De Kock at number 3
Only time will tell who Mumbai Indians decide to start their innings with. Another question in front of MI management would be the fast bowling line up for the opening game against CSK. Whether to attack with one of the deadliest attack with Bumrah & Boult or to go with Bumrah & McClenaghan in the opening game ?
IPL 2020 : InsideSport Predicts Mumbai Indians XI for the first game against CSK
1) Rohit Sharma
2) Chris Lynn
3) Quinton De Kock
4) Suryakumar Yadav
5) Krunal Pandya
6) Hardik Pandya
7) Kieron Pollard
8) Rahul Chahar
9) Dhawal Kulkarni
10) Jasprit Bumrah
11) Trent Boult / Mitchel McClenaghan
Editors pick
