Follow Us
IPL 2024 was a nightmare for Mumbai Indians, who finished at the bottom of the points table. Despite boasting a strong, star-studded lineup, Mumbai won only 4 out of their 14 matches and lost 10.
Cricket experts believe one of the key reasons for Mumbai’s poor performance was the decision to remove Rohit Sharma from the captaincy just days before the tournament and hand over leadership to Hardik Pandya. This sudden captaincy change did not sit well with Mumbai fans, and Hardik faced significant backlash during the matches. While this may have contributed, several other issues also impacted Mumbai’s dismal performance. For example, their opening partnerships consistently failed, Jasprit Bumrah carried the pace attack single-handedly without adequate support from other pacers, and some star players underperformed throughout the season.
Now, Mumbai Indians are fully prepared to enter IPL 2025 with a fresh approach after the mega auction. The team will feature a blend of experienced core players like Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav, along with young talents such as Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, and Allah Ghazanfar. Cricket fans and IPL betting sites are already looking forward to the changes and dynamics in the upcoming season. This blog will discuss how Mumbai Indians can fight back in IPL 2025.
1. Rohit Sharma Reinstated as Mumbai Indians Captain
Rohit Sharma has led the team to five IPL titles. Mumbai Indians’ players, management, and fans strongly connect with him. His strategy is as effective as Dhoni’s—while he may not always perform at his best, he knows exactly how to get the best performance from his players.
There’s a vast difference between Hardik Pandya’s and Rohit Sharma’s captaincy styles. In critical situations, while Hardik tends to take matters into his own hands, Rohit Sharma empowers underperforming players, gives them opportunities, boosts their self-confidence, and gets them to perform, ultimately leading the team to victory. Rohit’s leadership could restore the lost confidence of Mumbai Indians. Rohit Sharma may be playing his last IPL, much like after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024, followed by his retirement. I hope you understand what I’m trying to say.
2. Proper Use of Quality Spinners
Since Yuzvendra Chahal’s departure, Mumbai Indians have consistently faced a shortage of quality spinners. Although Piyush Chawla has provided considerable support to the spin bowling attack to a large extent, the team has still lacked a proper quality spinner. However, with the arrival of overseas spinner Mitchell Santner and Afghan player Allah Ghazanfar, Mumbai’s spin attack has become much stronger. While the impact might not be as significant on Mumbai’s home pitches, in away games like Chennai and Lucknow, these spinners can dismantle even the most potent batting line-ups. Mitchell Santner, being an all-rounder, can turn the game around not just with his bowling but also with his batting. This time, Mumbai Indians’ spin attack will be no less formidable than those of KKR and CSK.
3. Strong Middle-order Batting
After analyzing all the teams for IPL 2025, one thing that stands out the most is the Mumbai Indians’ middle-order batting. Such a formidable middle-order lineup is unmatched by any other team in the IPL. Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Will Jacks are exceptional batters. If even one has a good day, they can single-handedly change the game. Tilak Varma consistently scores at a strike rate of 150+, which is higher than most middle-order batsmen in the league.
Suryakumar Yadav needs no introduction, although he has been out of form since last year. However, whenever he plays for the Mumbai Indians, he seems to rediscover his lost form. This time, the Mumbai Indians could make a strong comeback by relying on their powerful middle-order batting.
4. Lethal Pace attack with the Bumrah-Boult Duo
Jasprit Bumrah, a gem discovered by the IPL and a prized asset for the Mumbai Indians, carried the entire pace attack on his shoulders in the last season. He bowled with an impressive economy rate of 6.48, but the team’s overall performance suffered due to the lack of proper support from other bowlers. However, this time, the MI management paid special attention to this issue during the IPL mega auction and addressed the gap by adding one of the finest T20 bowlers, Trent Boult, to the squad.
Trent Boult, like Bumrah, is one of the best bowlers in the powerplay. He holds the record for taking the most wickets during this game phase. The Bumrah-Boult combination can dismantle even the most potent batting line-ups and make any opponent kneel. This lethal duo is sure to excite both fans and those following the season through Cricket betting apps.
5. Finisher in Hardik Pandya
If KKR has Rinku, SRH has Klassen, and RCB has Kohli, then MI boasts one of the finest finishers in Hardik Pandya. Hardik holds an edge over the others because he is an all-rounder. In critical situations, Hardik steps up to defend the team, often saving them from defeat. His strike rate in the death overs during IPL matches frequently exceeds 200 and sometimes even reaches 250. He also brings a variety of shots, effortlessly hitting the ball out of the boundary.
In terms of bowling, Hardik adds variety with slower bouncers and yorkers, making him a valuable asset. However, I believe Hardik will continue to focus more on his batting as a finisher rather than bowling, as the duo of Bumrah and Boult are more than sufficient for MI’s bowling attack.
