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Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma during Mumbai Indians’ practice session. Photo: Mumbai Indians
Rohit Sharma will not be the captain of the Mumbai side for the first time in a decade. Hardik Pandya, who won a title in his inaugural season as captain of Gujarat Titans, is back at his first team in the IPL to lead them now in place of Rohit.
Will he be able to repeat what Rohit did in five out of 10 seasons as captain or what he did for Gujarat in the last two seasons by taking them to the final is the biggest challenge in front of Pandya now.
Business Standard try to do a SWOT analysis to see if his team has the potential to reach their seventh final or not.
Strength- Big Hitters and Bumrah
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Along with Boom-Boom, Mumbai would be powered by the presence of all-rounders and big-hitting finishers in the form of Pandya himself. They have Tim David, Romario Shepherd, and Mohammad Nabi to choose from, who will complement Pandya as the second finisher. The 360 degrees of Surya will always come into play as well at the fag end of the innings.
Mumbai Indians IPL 2024 Schedule
Mumbai Indians’ team huddle. Photo: Mumbai Indians
Weakness- Rusty Players
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Rohit Sharma, though he played all five Tests of the series, did not take the field all the time in every game, and age is catching up on him as well.
Mumbai Indians IPL players’ list and their Salary
Opportunity- For Young Guns to Establish Themselves
It is an opportunity for young stars like Ishan, Tilak Varma, Deweald Bervis, Gerald Coetzee, and Dilshan Madushanka to prove that they are the right investments made by the Mumbai Indians franchise.
Even other Indian stars like Nehal Wadehera and Kumar Kartiklya would have to take centre stage with spin bowling, as Piyush Chawla at 36 cannot remain the strike bowler for a team like Mumbai.
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Threat- From Mid-Season Injuries
Most of the Mumbai big guns like Pandya himself, Bumrah, and Surya are coming off injuries. Pacers like Coetzee and Madushanka have been injury-prone as well, and with Rohit, a niggle here and there might be a cause of big worry for the Mumbai side.
Having already lost a big star like Jofra Archer for two seasons and Bumrah for one to injury, the Mumbai side cannot rule out injury as their major threat.
IPL 2024: MI Probable Playing 11
Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Tim David, Mohammad Nabi, Piyush Chawla, Gerald Coetzee, Jasprit Bumrah, Dilshan Madushanka
First Published: Mar 24 2024 | 4:15 PM IST
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