Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020 will be wanting to continue with the momentum they had last season. Â The Rohit Sharma-led side won the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). That was their fourth honor. During the IPL Auction 2020. Mumbai Indians, who already have a settled unit, added players to add further depth. The site already has a world-class feel to it and could vie for a fifth title this time.
At the IPL Auction 2020, the headline buys for Mumbai Indians Team were that of Australian pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile. The experienced cricketer was snapped up for a staggering Rs 8 crore. However, he missed the previous two IPL campaigns with injuries. He had done well in the IPL 2017 edition for Kolkata Knight Riders. Former KKR stalwart Chris Lynn, who has set the Big Bash League on fire, was bought for Rs 2 crore and was added to the Mumbai Indians Team.
The experienced Lynn adds a further dimension to the top order after receiving a pay cut.
Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020 auctions also got in some fringe players in the form of Saurabh Tiwary, Mohsin Khan, Digvijay Deshmukh, and Prince Balwant Rai. Their core side is so strong and that is MI’s biggest strength. It is a settled unit that has made it a habit of winning titles pretty frequently. They go into the IPL 2020 as the favorites and have all the attributes to set the standards.
Earlier in the IPL trade window, the side roped in Sherfane Rutherford from Delhi Capitals. They also let Mayank Markande and Siddesh Lad leave. Dhawan Kulkarni and Trent Boult were also traded in to make this site filled with quality all around.
Players bought by MI in IPL 2020 Auction – Chris Lynn (Rs 2 crore), Nathan Coulter-Nile (Rs 8 crore), Saurabh Tiwary (Rs 50 lakh), Mohsin Khan (Rs 20 lakh), Digvijay Deshmukh (Rs 20 lakh), Prince Balwant Rai Singh (Rs 20 lakh).
A look at the full squad of MI for IPL 2020 – Rohit Sharma, Sherfane Rutherford, Suryakumar Yadav, Anmolpreet Singh, Chris Lynn , Saurabh Tiwary, Dhawal Kulkarni, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga, Mitchell McClenaghan, Rahul Chahar, Trent Boult, Mohsin Khan, Prince Balwant Rai Singh, Digvijay Deshmukh, Hardik Pandya, Jayant Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Anukul Roy, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Ishan Kishan, Quinton de Kock, Aditya Tare.
Mumbai Indians have the luxury of a settled batting force
Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma look like the ideal bets to open the batting. They are a force together and will be crucial to hand MI the desired starts. From being aggressive to settling in as anchors, the two are a massive threat for any side. Lynn is there as well and is the perfect player to come in when they need to alter the side as per conditions. Lynn was consistent with KKR over the last few years and can score heavily.
Suryakumar Yadav has settled in well in the Mumbai Indians team and is regular in that middle order. Then there is Ishan Kishan, who can don the gloves whenever De Kock is kept out. He has an interesting campaign ahead. Aditya Tare is another experienced player in the ranks who can chip in for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020.
Over the years, MI has depended heavily on all-rounders for the power in the lower middle order. They have three major forces in the form of Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers. These three are the crux of this side and will once again be crucial for the side when they need that push in the middle overs or at the death. They are all match-winners and can attack freely.
Jayant Yadav and Tiwary are options on the bench.
Bowling for Mumbai Indians – A-Class above the rest
When it comes to bowling, there are few sides that can match the quality MI have in the ranks. The depth in pace-bowling is unbelievable for the Mumbai Indians team. MI has always focused largely on pacers and IPL 2020 will present a similar picture.
Jasprit Bumrah leads the team and he is the perfect man to win your games in tight situations besides promising with wickets aplenty. Veteran Lasith Malinga fits in and he is someone who still has the will to make his presence felt. He may have dropped his pace, but remains a pivotal asset for the side.
Trent Boult is the dazzling new-ball bowler and will look to form a partnership with Bumrah upfront. He gives the Mumbai Indians team the option of picking wickets at the top. A class figure, Boult is a strong figure. Another left-arm pacer in the form of Mitchell McClenaghan is there to offer support. He too has been in the Mumbai ranks for a long time now and has shown what he can offer.
Kulkarni brings quality in the ranks as a senior figure and Coulter-Nile brings further experience. MI can turn up to them whenever they feel the need to rotate the crop of pacers. Rutherford and Hardik Pandya are all-rounders who can give you four overs at ease. The new addition in the form of 21-year-old Deshmukh is also a pacer.
MI’s spin department isn’t world-class. That has been the story for a while now. Krunal will be crucial with his left-arm spin. Rahul Chahar will play a massive role after Markande was let go off. The youngster played for India in a couple of T20Is this year. Jayant can also chip in when required. Slow left-arm orthodox spinner Anukul Roy will support from the bench. He played a single IPL game last season.
Weakness for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020?
Mumbai Indians hardly have much weakness. Their squad of late has always been revolving around many pace options, quality match-winning all-rounders and a few experienced guys in the batting. Perhaps someone with more experience in the spin department could have given them more steel.
Mumbai Indians can defend the title in IPL 2020: Our verdict
Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020 is a settled side who can field many options given the bunch of talented names present. The pace options cannot get better and there is a wide pool of world-class names to choose from for the Mumbai Indians team. You can rotate them at ease and the bowlers suit the demand of the T20 format. The spin department has the potential to do enough despite not having world-class names.
With Lynn, Rohit and De Kock, you have three stars that can be the crux of this side. And most importantly, the all-rounders in Pandya brothers and Pollard are just relishing. It will be hard to stop MI as they have won four titles in the last seven editions. The players know how to handle the pressure and win matches.
Delhi Capitals are a team that can vie for the title this time, however, Mumbai Indians in IPL 2020 remain the most sorted side out there.