Mumbai Indians are the defending champions for IPL 2020.
Mumbai Indians is the most successful IPL franchise with four titles to their name and also the defending champions going into IPL 2020.
However, the big guns have the worst record in UAE with 5 losses in as many games. The last time IPL went to the UAE, MI had just one trophy. They have now added 3 more to their cabinet and have become a much stable side in all aspects.
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They are certainly the contenders for a title win yet again in IPL 13. What makes MI such a strong side is the core of match-winners. The Mumbai-based franchise has match-winners in all three roles and thus are very difficult to beat.
Here, Team COC brings to you the top 5 players who can help MI win IPL 13:
ROHIT SHARMA
The Mumbaikar has led the franchise to 4 title wins and has been in terrific form since the last title win. He will be the frontrunner not only as a captain but also as a batsman.
His performances with the bat in the last couple of IPL seasons haven’t been upto the mark but he has delivered whenever the team needs him the most. He brings stability to the top-order and forms a formidable opening pair with Quinton de Kock.
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He has now been the captain of the side for the last 7 years and has had a major contribution to building this team. He knows his players inside out and knows exactly when to use whom. At his disposal are some young and word-class cricketers along with the veterans who have played T20 cricket all around the world.
With the side’s leading wicket-taker Lasith Malinga unavailable for the season, he wouldn’t have hoped for a better time to shift the tournament to a country that aids spin. He will bring in his spinners and lead MI with all his ability!
HARDIK PANDYA
The seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya has not played a lot of cricket since the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 due to various reasons. He was a crucial player for MI in the previous season as well for India in the aforementioned World Cup tournament. He will hopefully be back with the same intent, fitness level, and skill level if not more.
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Pandya can be used as a floater in bowling innings. He has the right pace to bowl the new ball but Rohit Sharma will have to trust his accuracy. He is also capable of breaking partnerships in the middle or choke the batsmen in the death.
A floater of Pandya’s quality is a big relief for the skipper. As a batsman, he is more suited as a finisher than an innings builder. He was slotted as the slogger in IPL 2019 and he did an exemplary job. He will most likely be used at that spot in IPL 2020.
JASPRIT BUMRAH
Bumrah is arguably the best death bowler in the world at the moment and MI has a luxury with him in the side. The skipper can literally consider his overs in the death as nothing short of gold dust.
Bumrah had been playing all three formats before the COVID-19 lockdown and the five-month -break would have done him a world of good.
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A fit Jasprit Bumrah is all MI will hope for in the pace department. His first spell of two overs can be with the new ball as well as in the middle overs depending upon the opposition.
If the ball is swinging too much, MI has the likes of Trent Boult and Mitchell McClenaghan to handle the powerplays while Bumrah can choke the opposition in the middle overs as well.
QUINTON DE KOCK
The newly appointed South African limited-overs skipper Quinton de Kock does wonders at the top of the order. With Rohit Sharma, he forms a deadly right-left opening combination. While Sharma takes time to get his eye in, De Kock keeps the scoreboard moving as to not put pressure on the others.
After Sharma gets going, De Kock can help him put up a huge score on the board for the MI team.
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Behind the stumps, you would find very few active wicket-keepers who can cover more ground than De Kock. His full-length dives are a treat to watch. His keeping will be tested on the slow and turning pitches in UAE and De Kock will need to up his game with the gloves.
SURYAKUMAR YADAV
Another Mumbaikar that the Mumbai Indians have made into a gem is Suryakumar Yadav. He was a good finisher for the Kolkata Knight Riders, but then he nailed the opener’s role after switching to MI in 2018.
He has batted at the spot to No. 3 in 2019 when De Kock came into the side and Yadav ended up scoring more runs than in the previous season. He is the uncapped batsman that every side wants in their team. He has played a major part in the tournament for 7 seasons.
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He has the ability to rip apart bowlers, both fast and spin, and can consolidate the innings, in case quick wickets fall. Then he utilizes his array of shots to accumulate runs everywhere in the ground, leaving the bowlers scratching their heads, running out of plans.
MI will be looking at him for another exemplary batting performance this season and try to win IPL 2020.