IPL 2014: Mumbai Indians – Team Preview

Mumbai Indians are on a high after winning both Champions League T20 and IPL last year and will hope to repeat their performance in the seventh edition.

Mumbai Indians will try to defend their IPL title this season. The players are on a high after winning both Champions League T20 and IPL last year and will hope to repeat their performance in the seventh edition. With legend Sachin Tendulkar not in the squad this time following his retirement from all formats of the game, MI will surely miss him both on and off the field.

The team has been finishing consistently in the top three since the 2010 edition. Their good show on the field will be dependent on individual performances of its key players like Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Harbhajan Singh and skipper Rohit Sharma himself. These players have collectively been the backbone of Mumbai`s ascent in the tournament, the very reason why the Mumbai-based franchise has retained them. Now, with the arrival `Mr Cricket ` Michael Hussey, who was earlier associated with Chennai Super Kings, they can count on his experience for injecting stability in top-order batting. With New Zealand all-rounder, Corey Anderson making his way in the team, he along with Kieron Pollard will make a powerful combination of all-rounders. The duo will definitely give sleepless nights to opposition teams. Both are magnificent finishers of the game and are also adept at bowling economical spells. Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga, Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh have enormous experience to cope with T20 pressure. Lasith Malinga is the leading top-wicket taker in the IPL so far, with 103 scalps to his name from 73 matches. His yorkers and inswinging deliveries are most lethal weapons in his armoury, enough to topple any batting order. Mumbai have got tremendous support staff in John Wright (Coach), Jonty Rhodes (Fielding Coach), Anil Kumble (Chief Mentor), Robin Singh (Assistant Coach). Their contributions for the side have been impeccable and the team, under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, will leave no stone unturned to lift the coveted IPL title again. Key signings: Michael Hussey for Rs 5 crore, Corey Anderson for 4.5 crore Strength: The overall strength of Mumbai Indians lies in the collective experience of veterans like Michael Hussey, Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga and Harbhajan Singh. With all-rounders in the form of Kieron Pollard and Corey Anderson, the team has an ability to waylay any attack. Weakness: Now that they don’t have the services of Dwayne Smith, Mumbai Indians lack an explosive batsman at the top of the order. Aditya Tare has got them to some quick starts in the past, but he is not someone who has been consistent with it. Squad: Indian players: Rohit Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ambati Rayudu, Aditya Tare, Pawan Suyal, Jalaj Saxena, Sushant Marathe, Shreyas Gopal, Chidhambaram Gautam, Jasprit Bumrah Overseas players: Michael Hussey, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Corey Anderson, Marchant de Lange, Ben Dunk, Josh Hazlewood, Krishkumar Santokie Probable playing eleven: Aditya Tare, Rohit Sharma, Michael Hussey, Ambati Rayudu, Corey Anderson, Kieron Pollard, Apoorv Wankhede, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Zaheer Khan, Lasith Malinga