The most talked about franchise in IPL is undoubtedly Mumbai Indians(MI) who has won 5 titles of IPL over the last 10 years since 2013. The Ambani led management franchise has always been instrumental in giving examples of a visionary future and this year it won’t be anything different.
Right from the inception of IPL since 2008 till the upcoming auction on 19th December, Mumbai Indians has being unique in their style of acquisition and retaining of players. What amuses more from a viewer point is the ability and knack of Mumbai Indians to process and select a player and develop it into the product effective to represent their respective countries in the highest form of cricket.
Mumbai Indians and their lookout for new talent is always special
Mumbai Indians (MI) as a franchise over the years understood the need of growth for talent and this hunger led them to conspire a leader in Rohit Sharma whom they first bought in 2010 then nurtured him for next 3 years and in 2013 in the midway handed him the reigns of the team from ably capable Ricky Ponting only to go further and win the elusive IPL title that year.
Many such examples are seeing in Indian cricket itself be it Sachin Tendulkar to become its first captain or Robin Singh as its coaching staff. Keeping lesser known Rahul Sanghvi as a specialist to hunt down young talents or making use of International coaches like John Wright , Mahela Jayawardene or Shane bond as their mentoring staffs.
The confidence and trust shown on Rohit Sharma as a captain was to the level that in the forthcoming years till 2023 Mumbai Indians had 4 more titles to their name and Rohit Sharma becoming the most successive captain of IPL history after Mahendra Singh Dhoni. This vision of Mumbai Indians was not only limited with Rohit Sharma ,it went further and produced future superstars for India like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya who was instrumental as a young talent winning Mumbai 4 of their 5 titles.
Further the allrounder has tremendous success in the year 2022 leading his side Gujarat Titans(GT) to their maiden title in the first year of inception itself and again reaching finals in the 2023 IPL season thus creating a wide buzz when he decided to return to his old franchise ahead of 2024 season of IPL.
However their vision to grow on the talent pool have urged former Australian player Brad Hogg to predict the importance of quality overseas pacers in the upcoming IPL 2024 mini auction to support the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and others. This prediction came true when at the auction Mumbai Indians took Jason Behrendorff , Gerald Coetzee and Dilshan Madhushanka to assist Bumrah after Jofra Archer left the squad.
As the IPL 2024 was to begin MI had to bear losses of Dilshan Madhushanka and Jason Behrendorff who were replaced by Kwena Maphaka and Nuwan Thushara.
Mumbai Indians poor performance in IPL 2024
Mumbai Indians the five time champions under Hardik Pandya looked a little off track team in IPL 2024. After loosing first 3 matches on the trot Mumbai Indians bounced back winning the next two matches at Wankhede However things at the moment look bleak for the Hardik Pandya led side who has 3 wins from 8 matches with only 5 matches to go in the IPL for the playoff stage.
This plight of the 5 time title holders amused former RCB and South African cricketer Ab De Villiers who claimed that its disheartening to see this team going so low in IPL 2024.
Everything is going wrong for Mumbai Indians- AB de Villiers
Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers still believes Mumbai Indians (MI) have the best side on paper in IPL 2024 and can go on a winning run to make it to the playoffs.
MI faced their fifth defeat of the season when the Rajasthan Royals smashed the visitors by nine wickets in Jaipur. This has brought Hardik Pandya and his men into a situation where they probably have to win every single one of their remaining games to make the final four.
In a video on his YouTube channel, here’s what AB de Villiers had to say about MI’s struggles and their chances of making the playoffs
“They just don’t seem to be holding onto anything. Everything is going wrong. But they are still in it and probably need to win five out of their last six games. They have done this before and it’s just about gelling together. Possibly on paper the best team in the IPL,” said AB de Villiers.
MI play their next IPL 2024 match against the Delhi Capitals on Saturday, April 27.