Not too many will recall the last of Mumbai Indians’ five Indian Premier League (IPL) titles. In November 2020, the world was still coming to grips with words and phrases like ‘pandemic’, ‘lockdown’ and ‘social distancing’. The final, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, was worlds removed from the usual razzmatazz and hype. Without thousands of fans whirling and swirling like dervishes in the stands, it wasn’t even half the spectacle.
In retrospect, that was also the end of the road for a great team. It was Mumbai’s fifth title in eight years, and a third in four seasons. The core of the side had been together for years, and the sense of continuity was apparent when you considered the starting XI for the 2020 final with that which had edged out Chennai Super Kings by a run in 2019. Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan formed the top four in both games, and the middle order of Krunal Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya was also unchanged.
The winds of change had already affected the bowling side of things though. Jasprit Bumrah remained, one of the league’s most-feared bowlers. But Lasith Malinga, after his last-overs heroics in 2019, was gone, replaced by Australia’s Nathan Coulter-Nile. And Trent Boult had replaced Mitchell McClenaghan, as one left-arm quick from New Zealand took the place of another.
It’s testament to Mumbai’s belief in team-building – as opposed to the hire-and-fire strategies favoured by other, less successful, franchises – that Rohit, Kishan and Suryakumar are still part of the top order. But a glance down the teamsheets for this season would tell you just how much Mumbai have lost, and had to replace.
Pollard, who gave them stellar service for 13 seasons, is now the batting coach. Hardik led Gujarat Titans to glory in 2022, and is presently plotting a repeat. Krunal, his big brother, is presently leading Lucknow Super Giants’ play-off charge, with KL Rahul ruled out for the season. As for Bumrah, the stresses and strains of being the bowling talisman for both the franchise and his country seem to have caught up with him.
Well below his best in 2022, Bumrah was ruled out of IPL 2023 long before it began. Jofra Archer, viewed as the long-term successor to Malinga, has played five games across the last two seasons, as he struggles to make a full recovery from an elbow injury. With the two bowlers expected to spearhead a title charge unavailable, Mumbai have been forced to call on lesser-known foreign players like Jason Behrendorff and relative unknowns from domestic cricket like Akash Madhwal.
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But where the franchise’s ability to adapt has really shown itself is in the rejuvenation of the middle order. Pollard hit an incredible 223 sixes in 171 innings over his IPL career. That he has barely been missed this season is testament to the quality of the replacements. Till this season, no team had ever chased more than 200 to win an IPL match at the Wankhede Stadium.
After Rajasthan Royals had piled up 212 courtesy a marvellous 124 from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mumbai were making a spirited bid for victory. But when Suryakumar was dismissed, they still needed 61 from 26 balls. What did Tim David do? He emulated the Pollard of old by nonchalantly smacking five sixes in a 14-ball 45.
Tilak Varma’s fitness may be a concern at the moment, but over the course of the season, he has shown himself to be a more than capable replacement for Krunal, another left-hand bat. And while it’s far too early in his career to make a comparison, Cameron Green has stepped into the seam-bowling-all-rounder role that Hardik vacated with some aplomb.
Where Mumbai continue to struggle is in the spin department. Harbhajan Singh was part of their journey for the first decade, but since then, they haven’t really been able to settle on a slow bowler who can make the sort of difference that a Yuzvendra Chahal or Rashid Khan make for their franchises.
Rahul Chahar, a leg-spinner, played in the 2019 final, while Jayant Yadav’s off-breaks were employed a year later. At present, it’s Piyush Chawla who’s enjoying a renaissance in the autumn of his career. But Mumbai know that he is no long-term solution. For now, Kumar Kartikeya, Hrithik Shokeen and Shams Mulani don’t inspire anything like the same confidence.
But Suryakumar’s astounding batsmanship this season after a slow start shows the value of trusting in what you have. Look at the state of Sunrisers Hyderabad now. Having let David Warner and Rashid Khan go – Warner pushed out unceremoniously – a franchise that were perennial playoff contenders are now a fixture at the bottom of the table.
It’s no coincidence that Mumbai and Chennai have won nine titles between them. Even as they keep an eye out for smart auction buys, they keep the spine of the team together. When a key player has to move on, they try to bring in a like-for-like replacement. The Mumbai middle order is a fine example of that succession planning.
After two seasons of transition where they disappointed their fans, Mumbai once again look ominous. The batting firepower is scary, and the bowlers have been doing just about enough to back it up. And in Rohit, they have a captain who remains unflustered in most situations. Predictions are hazardous in a league with some quality teams, but don’t be surprised if Mumbai ride this wave of momentum all the way to Title No.6.