IPL 10: SWOT Analysis of the Mumbai Indians squad

The prestigious Indian Premier League (IPL) will enter its 10th edition when the first game takes place on the 5th of April, 2017. It created a buzz even before the start when everyone’s eyes were glued on the players’ auction. All the team owners had their strategies ready to plug the gaps in the squads.

Mumbai Indians did not have a happy outing in the last edition as they failed to make it to the playoff and finished 5th on the points table. They had a star-studded squad and hence went easy in the auction. But does that add to their strength or make them weaker?

Here is the SWOT analysis of the MI squad for the 2017 edition.

Strengths

Strong middle-order

Their skipper Rohit Sharma bats at number 3 and plays the anchor role more often than not. He is the ideal batsman for the T20 format as he can adjust game his depending upon the match situations. He likes to build his innings and then go after the bowling but if required he can go berserk from ball one. He is their best batsman who has won plenty of matches for them single-handedly.

Ambati Rayudu is another dependable batsman who has bailed them out of trouble in the past on many occasions. His major force is the ability to tackle the spinners. He uses his feet to reach the pitch of the ball and is able to clear the boundary comfortably. Not only spinners, he is equally good against the pacers too. He knows how to pace an innings whether setting up a total or chasing one.

Fast bowlers

In their bowling armory, they hold the fort with the best bowler in the T20 format, Lasith Malinga. The Sri Lankan doesn’t need an introduction when it comes to dismantling the opposition batting. His ability to bowl yorkers at will, combined with the slinging action make him a very tough bowler to score runs off. With 143 scalps to his name, he is by far the leading wicket-taker in the league. His return to full fitness boosts the chances of MI clinching their third title.

He would be supported by another slog overs specialist in the form of Jasprit Bumrah. The rise of Bumrah in Indian circuit has been an amazing story altogether. Not too many would have thought that he would be able to survive with that weird action. But how he uses that action to strength is simply wonderful. He has been India’s trusted death overs bowler for the last one year and he has improved ever so more since the last season.

Weaknesses

Slow starters

Though the team has had a terrific record so far in the history of the league having been crowned the champions twice and add to that the two Champions League triumphs too. But they haven’t been the best starting teams in the tournament. When IPL was played partly in the U.A.E. in 2014, they had lost all the 5 games there on the trot but made it to the playoffs by raising their game midway.

They have a habit of trying out different combinations initially and then they tend to settle to a balanced line-up. But in the process, they lose early games that does not give them the momentum. They have had to come back hard to revive the fortunes in the latter stages. But this time, they should look to go in with their full-strength XI from the outset.

Pollard’s lack of form

Since the inception of the league in the year 2008, one of their key players has been Kieron Pollard. He has given them victories on numerous occasions and at times brought them home from extremely tough situations. His power hitting in the lower middle-order has been a big factor in MI’s good returns. He is also a  handy medium pacer and an extremely acrobatic fielder who has grabbed some breathtaking catches.

But last year, he had a forgettable time as he failed to contribute in either of the departments. He accounted for only 208 runs in 12 matches at an average of 26 and hardly bowled in the whole season. His form will be a real concern for the team and him being a prime member of the squad, he needs to have better returns this season.

Opportunities

The Pandya brothers

The young Hardik Pandya has been one of the most improved cricketers in the Indian contingent in the last one year. He has worked on his bowling skills and is generating some good pace and is now a better bowler than ever. The 23-year-old will also serve as the third pacer in the squad behind Malinga and Bumrah. There have been absolutely no doubts about his power hitting with the bat and will be a useful lower order batsman this season.

His elder brother Krunal Pandya impressed one and all with his all-round skills in the last season. His valuable left-arm spinners came good for MI. Though he is not a big turner of the ball, yet his in-dippers with the new ball are more than handy. He is not too far behind his younger brother when it comes to tonking the ball while batting. His recent form in the domestic trophies would make it merrier for the team. With some good outings, he might even knock the doors of the Indian national side.

The newbies

Karn Sharma was their costliest pick in the auction when they grabbed him for INR 3 crores. Although Harbhajan Singh would be the first pick in the playing XI as the spinner, Sharma would keep him on his toes throughout the season. There would be an additional pressure on both Harbhajan and Krunal to do well or else the talented leg-spinner would be ready to pounce on the slightest of opportunities.

A hugely economical buy in the auction came in the form of Asela Gunaratne. The Sri Lankan was picked for just INR 30 Lakhs. He has been a sensation in the Sri Lankan cricket of late. He was the major factor in his team’s series victory in T20Is down under. If Pollard or Buttler fail to make an impact, Gunaratne would fancy his chances to become a permanent fixture in the XI.

Threats

Fragile opening partnership

Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons would most likely open the innings for MI at least for the start of the season. MI have had problems in the past with the openings slots and they have tried several combinations over different seasons. Though Parthiv and Simmons did well for them last year, yet there won’t be full assurance on the duo to repeat the same this year.

If anyone of them fails, Rohit Sharma would bat at the opener’s slot. It won’t be anything new for him as he has done that in the past for MI and he plays as an opener for the Indian team. But if both the chosen openers don’t stand out, they lack a backup opening batsman in the squad.

Also read| IPL 2017: Mumbai Indians Best Possible XI

Injury concerns

Malinga had recently recovered from his long-lasting injury and played for Sri Lanka against Australia in the T20Is. He does have an injury prone body and now at the age of 33, there is always a threat of succumbing to injuries. It has happened in the past as well and given the importance of Malinga in the team, it would be extremely crucial for him to stay fit for the whole season.

In an unfortunate incident of an injury to any of the pacers, they would have to be replaced with one of Mitchell McClenaghan, Tim Southee, Vinay Kumar or Mitchell Johnson. Johnson has had awful last couple of seasons with Kings XI Punjab and having retired from international cricket, it remains to be seen how he manages to survive in the game. Vinay Kumar too hasn’t had a fruitful domestic season. Southee or McClenaghan would have to raise their games in such a case.