Mumbai Indians (MI) dominated the IPL 2020 like no other team before them and easily defended their title beating Delhi Capitals in the finals in Dubai on November 10. It was an exemplary performance from a team that had retained its core players for years.
MI is well-oiled machinery helmed by Rohit Sharma and supported by the likes of Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, and Jasprit Bumrah. They also have the likes of Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav joining the leadership group from 2018, making MI a formidable team.
However, with a rumored mega auction taking place before the 2021 IPL edition in India, former India player Aakash Chopra feels that this big auction may harm Mumbai Indians more than it benefits them.
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His opinion on his YouTube Channel is based on the retention and right-to-match policies of the IPL governing council in past years. With the addition of a new team in 2021 IPL, BCCI is keen on having a mega auction with big names going back into the pool, meaning MI won’t be able to retain all of their core players.
“The suggestion for the Mumbai Indians is that they should somehow not allow the big auction to happen. Although they will still be fine if there is a big auction because their planning is absolutely immaculate,” Chopra jokingly said.
“But if the big auction happens, other than the 5-6 players they will be able to retain, there will be few changes for sure. They will not be able to retain everyone as they have so many good players and someone or the other will have to go,” he, though, added.
“So once the scenario changes, the story might change a little. So this team might be saying not to have the big auction and to have it after another three years and that their team is set,” he further said.
Chopra further insisted that the big auctions will definitely mix things up and will allow certain teams to reach par with the Mumbai Indians.
“On a serious note, of course, they don’t decide if a big auction happens or not. If it happens, it will just mix up the things a little and the other teams might come somewhat on par with them.
At the moment, it is not even a level playing field it seems as there is a vast difference in the level of the Mumbai Indians and the rest of the teams. So, I would expect more of the same from the Mumbai Indians in 2021, nothing different,” he signed off.
