IPL 2020 – Season Review: Mumbai Indians – The juggernaut rolls on
Mumbai Indians, perhaps the greatest T20 team ever, fittingly clinched their 5th title this year. They have been the most dominant and consistent side in the IPL, and this year was no different. They started off slightly slow, like most years, but struck the perfect balance mid-tournament and never looked back. They are as coherent a team as possible and that reflects in their performances. After another dazzling victory, let us review the season of Mumbai Indians.
Positives
A team which wins certainly has several positives. For Mumbai Indians, the usual suspects, Jasprit Bumrah, Kieron Pollard and Hardik Pandya performed well once again. Even Rohit Sharma, who had a mediocre season leading up to the final, showed his class and stamped his authority in the game it mattered the most.
Leaving them aside, the performance of Ishan Kishan has to be the biggest positive for them. Kishan, who was the U-19 captain in the 2016 World Cup, has been with MI for 5 years now. While in the previous seasons he had shown promise, this was the year he delivered and delivered handsomely. He ended up scoring 516 runs in 14 games, at an unbelievable average of 57.33 and SR of 146. He was also the tournament’s highest six-hitter, smashing 30 maximums.
The second biggest positive for MI was the performance of Trent Boult. Before this season, Boult had managed to pick just 38 wickets in 33 IPL games. He was a decent bowler, but not a gun T20 bowler. In Mumbai, he transformed into an absolute superstar. He picked up 25 wickets in 15 games this year and was one of the main reasons MI was able to pick up early wickets regularly. He had a defined role, and he played that to perfection.
A good start means job half done. That’s where @trent_boult was the most devastating for the opponents in #IPL2020 pic.twitter.com/JMeew0dbdW
— 100MB (@100MasterBlastr) November 12, 2020
The little chink
A champion side usually doesn’t have too many weaknesses. MI didn’t have either. But one area they may look to improve upon is their spin bowling. While they possess the likes of Krunal Pandya, Rahul Chahar and Jayant Yadav, none of them is a match-winner. That was evident this year as spinners often were not able to keep up the pressure after the initial outburst of the pacers. The lack of experienced and accomplished spinners is perhaps the only primary weakness MI had this year.
What next?
?? ? ??#OneFamily #MumbaiIndians #MIChampion5 #Believe?? @hardikpandya7 @krunalpandya24 pic.twitter.com/lPOOt8Vmxb
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) November 11, 2020
A team which lifts the trophy has only one thing to look forward to-retaining their core. If a Mega Auction does happen next year, MI need to try and bring back at least 75% of the core of this team, in which they have worked hard honing players. They would want to reap the fruits of their efforts in the upcoming seasons as well. In addition to that, if MI are able to procure an experienced spinner, it is possible that they take home the IPL title next year as well.
