IPL 2020: 3 Players Mumbai Indians (MI) might not use in the playing XI

‘Duniya Hila Denge’ is the motto of Mumbai Indians (MI) and certainly, they have rocked the world over the last 7 years. With 4 trophies in the cabinet, Mumbai is the most successful franchise in IPL. With a proactive captain who leads from the front, a strong middle order of young Indian players, and a pacer who is arguably best in the world; the blue brigade is the team to beat.

For a team to be successful over a period of time, it needs to be consistent with its performances which results from stability in the team. Much like their arch-rivals, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Mumbai play with almost the same line-up throughout the season.

In the last few years, MI has built a core of Indian players which makes it difficult for other members of the squad to break into the eleven. Siddhesh Lad, who has been traded to Kolkata Knight Riders, was part of the MI family since 2015 and yet he could manage to play just a single game.

Here we look at three more MI players who could end up like Lad and might not get even a single game in IPL 2020:-

Aditya Tare

The name of Aditya Tare is etched in the memories of IPL fans for his match-winning six against Rajasthan Royals which propelled Mumbai Indians through to the playoffs in 2014. After hitting the full toss over square leg Tare wrapped his shirt around his head and danced like a chicken as the entire Wankhede went into euphoria. Apart from that ‘moment of fame’ Tare has remained on the sidelines, albeit being part of the title-winning squad in 2013 and 2015.

The right-hander made his List-A debut in 2008 and grabbed attention of the Mumbai franchise who bought him in the 2010 auction. He spent most of his time warming the bench as a backup wicketkeeper for Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik and Parthiv Patel. Playing at different positions for MI, Tare scored 313 runs at an average of 16 in 23 innings. He was released in 2015 and then later had stints with Hyderabad and Delhi.

Mumbai brought him back for the 2018 season but was once again sidelined by a sprouting youngster- Ishan Kishan and by Quinton de Kock in 2019. Tare hasn’t played a single game in IPL for the last two seasons, and with such a heavy batting lineup, the chances of him making in the playing eleven are very bleak.

Anukul Roy

Born in Jharkhand, Anukul Roy was the joint-leading wicket-taker in India’s triumphant 2018 Under-19 World Cup. The left-arm spinner took 14 wickets in 6 matches at an unreal average of 9! Subsequently, Mumbai bought Anukul for INR 20 lakhs ahead of the 2018 auction. Roy plays as a bowling all-rounder for Jharkhand in the Ranji Trophy where he has bagged 30 wickets in 9 matches.

Anukul couldn’t get a game in the 2018 IPL and was part of the playing eleven for a solitary match in 2019. The offie made his IPL debut against Chennai Super Kings at the Chepauk. He bowled two overs for eleven runs and took the wicket of Dhruv Shorey.

In the presence of Krunal Pandya and the emergence of Mayank Markande last year and Rahul Chahar this season, Anukul had to sit on the bench. The 20-year-old will be hoping for some game time in the 2020 season, but it seems difficult to fit the youngster in the final eleven.

Anmolpreet Singh

Anmolpreet Singh is a hard-hitting batsman hailing from Patiala, Punjab. He was part of the Under-19 team in the 2016 World Cup. Anmolpreet scored 116 runs in 3 innings with a match-winning knock of 72 in the semi-final against Sri Lanka.

At the age of 19, he was the leading run-scorer for Punjab in the 2017-18 Ranji season scoring 753 runs in 5 matches at an astonishing average of 125. In his recent progress, the 21-year-old has been included for the Deodhar Trophy and Duleep Trophy.

Because of his reputation, Mumbai Indians snapped him for INR 80 lakhs last year. With the kind of ammunition Mumbai has in the likes of Kieron Pollard, and the Pandya brothers it is almost impossible to fit a teenager in the mix. The right-hander didn’t play a game last season and nothing much different is expected next season.