Defending champions Mumbai Indians started their IPL title defense against Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli will be seen opposite each other in the initial clash of the season. But there are many other players who have the ability to tilt the balance of the game in favor of their team. The roster of Mumbai Indians boasts of some big international names but it is a strong Indian core that has made the team so successful over the years.
Some teams can be proud of Indian players like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Hardik and Krunal Pandya, Jaspreet Bumrah, Rahul Chahar.
Rohit Sharma:
India’s opener is now synonymous with Mumbai Indians. When you think of MI, it is difficult to overtake Rohit Sharma. His influence has been occasional since joining the franchise. However, the stylish right-hander has not been at his best in recent matches. He scored 161 runs during the Test series against England, but despite starting in the three-match T20I and ODI series, he scored a high of 64 which was his only half-century.
Last season in the UAE, Rohit scored 332 runs at an average of 27.66 at a strike rate of 127.69. He scored three half-centuries without scoring a single century.
Suryakumar Yadav:
The 30-year-old made his international bow in the T20I series against England in India. While he did not come to bat in his first match, he impressed with a stunning 57 in the second and followed it up with a fluent 32 in the third and final T20I.
Suryakumar has been a revelation for the Mumbai Indians in the last three seasons. Last year, he scored 480 runs in 16 matches at an average of 40, with four fifties to his name. In addition, he scored at a superb strike rate of 145.01. In the 2019 season, Suryakumar scored a total of 424 runs, while his best IPL comeback was in the 2017 season when he scored 512 runs in 14 matches.
Jasprit Bomb:
Promoted
Bumrah, the latest addition to the husbands’ club in the Indian cricket team, has been out since the second Test against England. A fresh and well-rested Bumrah can spew doom for the opposition, and the Mumbai Indians will be banking on him to take the bulk of the wickets.
Pacer was at its best in the UAE, taking 27 wickets in total and Mumbai Indians won a record fifth title. He was second behind Cagiso Rabada of Delhi Capital who took 30 wickets. The 2020 season was Bumrah’s best in the IPL. Apart from the wickets, the 27-year-old claimed an economy rate of 6.73.
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