IPL 2018: Viv Richards believes Mumbai Indians have found an elixir this season

Former Windies cricketer Sir Viv Richards is closely following the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League. He has been very vocal about his opinions on the league and the performances of the players in the tournament thus far. He recently stressed on the fact that the teams who have promising youngsters delivering will find success. Richards had special words of praise for a Mumbai Indians cricketer.

Not many knew about Mayank Markande. But the young leggie has managed to make a name for himself in the tournament already. In his recent column for TOI, Viv Richards hailed Markande as an elixir for the defending champions this year. Albeit team MI languish at the bottom of the points table, the performances of Markande has been very pleasing.

“Contributions from young blood have been an important aspect in every team’s performance this season and the editions before. Having said that, Mumbai have found an elixir with Mayank Markande, who has been outstanding with the ball just as Suryakumar Yadav has been with the bat, despite results not going the way of their team,” Viv Richards quoted.

On the first five-for of the season

Another rookie player who tasted success this season is Ankit Rajpoot. The Kings XI Punjab bowler recently became the first bowler to take a five wicket haul in the season. He achieved this feat in the match against Sunrisers Hyderbad. Viv Richards had some serious words of praise for Rajpoot as well.

“It was a pleasure to watch the way Punjab’s Ankit Rajpoot bowled against the Sunrisers, picking up the first five-for of the season. But again, Hyderabad’s bowling led by the sensation named Rashid Khan and a certain Siddarth Kaul, was something different. Remember, SRH have now won two low scoring games with their star pick Bhuvneshwar Kumar on the bench,” remarked the former cricketer.

On CSK-MI encounter

This Saturday, there will be no double header in the tournament. There is just one game and that promises to be a blockbuster. Chennai Super Kings are set to take on the Mumbai Indians in the match. The two sides have had great rivalry over the years. Also, the two teams had clashed in a highly thrilling season opener this year. Richards is looking forward to the game and believes it will be a classic again.

“It will be yet another classic battle when the league leaders Chennai take on Mumbai, who have not been at their best this season. Looking at the depth of both the squads on paper, it’s tough to pick a winner. MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma are great captains and they, as everyone knows, can turn the whole complexion of the league around in a few games with their team,” Richards conceded.

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