Sports
Rohit-led Mumbai Indians aim for second IPL crown (IPL team profile)
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By Aritra ChowdhuryMumbai, April 3
Mumbai Indians, the most talked
about team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), gear up for the eighth
edition of the cash-rich tournament as one of the favourites to clinch
the title for the second time.
The 2013 champions are all set to
take to the 22 yards under newly-appointed coach Ricky Ponting, whose
aggression and experience would be a big plus to the squad.
Last
year, led by hard-hitting Indian opener Rohit Sharma, the team reached
the play-off stages where they lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the
eliminator by 7 wickets.
But after the 2015 IPL auctions the team looks more formidable even before the start.
Among
the notable buys were Australia's World Cup-winning opener Aaron Finch,
who was bought for Rs.3.2crore. The Victorian, part of Sunrisers
Hyderabad in the IPL last season, has played 22 Twenty20 Internationals
for Australia and scored 756 runs.
New Zealand's Mitchell
McClenaghan is another crucial purchase. With his ability to pick up
wickets, the left-arm pacer is considered a limited overs specialist,
who has turned out in 16 Twenty20 Internationals for his national side
claiming 17 wickets. Mumbai Indians have done well to get him for Rs.30
lakh.
India's spinner Pragyan Ojha bowled with guile during the
team’s triumphant run in 2013. In the February 16 auction he was roped
in for Rs.50 lakh. During his seven-year IPL stint, the Odisha born has
got 89 wickets in 91 matches.
The 2011 and 2013 Champions League
T20 winners have retained bulk of the team they fielded last year and
that allows for continuity. Leading from the front will be Rohit, who
would be gunning to better his lacklustre show last year when he managed
just 390 runs from 15 games.
The advantage the team had over the
years is the pool of talented players, both Indians and overseas. The
presence of Indian batting great Sachin Tendulkar till the sixth IPL was
a great boost for the side.
Apart from Rohit, young talent in
the squad includes batsmen like Aditya Tare, Ambati Rayudu, Unmukt Chand
and not to forget pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who bowls with a unique action.
As
a player, Rayudu is yet to convince many experts, but as a talent his
ability has been talked about in volumes over the years. The team has
showed a lot of faith in the 29-year-old and it's to be seen if he can
pay back rightly.
The experience of seasoned campaigners Harbhajan Singh, R. Vinay Kumar, Parthiv Patel will hugely count in Indian soil.
Among
the overseas players who were retained were New Zealand's all-rounder
Corey Anderson, World Cup winning Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood, West
Indies big-hitter Keiron Pollard, South Africa pacer Marchant de Lange,
West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons, and last but not the least the
highest wicket taker in IPL history Sri Lanka's Lasith Malinga.
Having
all-rounders like Anderson and Pollard is always an advantage for any
team, not only in batting but also because of the duo’s electric
fielding. Pollard, who didn’t find a place in the West Indies World Cup
squad, will aim to prove his point and get his national spot back.
After a fantastic World Cup, Hazlewood will surely be handy for the team, considering his form.
However,
the rich pool of foreign talent could pose the problem of plenty for
the team, as IPL rules allow only four overseas players in the final
eleven.
No doubt like every season Malinga will be the key man
for the 2013 champions. Since joining the side in 2009, he has bowled at
an economy of 6.53 in 83 matches, claiming 119 wickets. The Sri Lankan
is also the first bowler to complete 100 wickets in the competition.
While
they have a strong batting and bowling arsenal, its their athletic
fielding under the watchful eyes of fielding guru Jonty Rhodes that
gives them an edge.
Mumbai Indians play their first match against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in Kolkata on April 8.
(Aritra Chowdhury can be contacted at [email protected])
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The squad:
Indian
Players: Rohit Sharma (captain), Aditya Tare, Ambati Rayudu, Jaspreet
Bumrah, Pawan Suyal, Shreyas Gopal, Unmukt Chand, R Vinay Kumar, Parthiv
Patel (wicket-keeper), Akshay Wakhare, Pragyan Ojha, Nitish Rana,
Sidhesh Lad, J Suchith, Hardik Pandya, Abhimanyu Mithun, Harbhajan
Singh.
Foreign Singings: Corey Anderson (New Zealand), Josh
Hazlewood (Australia), Kieron Pollard (West Indies), Lasith Malinga (Sri
Lanka), Merchant de Lange (South Africa), Lendl Simmons (West Indies),
Aaron Finch (Australia), Mitchell McClenaghan (New Zealand), Aiden
Blizzard (Australia).
Team Schedule - Home: vs Kings XI Punjab
(April 12), Chennai Super Kings (April 17), Sunrisers Hyderabad (April
25), Rajasthan Royals (May 1), Delhi Daredevils (May 5), Royal
Challengers (May 10), Kolkata Knight Riders (May 14)
Away: vs
Kolkata Knight Riders (April 8), Rajasthan Royals (April 14), Royal
Challengers Bangalore (April 19), Delhi Daredevils (April 23), Kings XI
Punjab (May 3), Chennai Super Kings (May 8), Sunrisers Hyderabad (May
17)
IPL Record : 2008-5th; 2009-7th; 2010-2nd; 2011-3rd; 2012-3rd; 2013-1st; 2014-4th