In sports, some like to get off the blocks in blazing fashion while some love to bide their time and then step on the accelerator gradually. Mumbai Indians belong to the second category. Looking ragged at the start most seasons, MI have shown a knack of turning things around in the business end before finishing off on a high. Overall too, MI took some time to warm up to IPL but once they got the taste of glory in 2013, they’ve trumped two more times to become the joint most successful franchise along with Chennai Super Kings.

Mumbai, though, will be hoping the perennial starting troubles don’t plague them this year. If they can get off to a decent start, they have solid personnel in their ranks to help them climb back to the top of the mountain again. 

Strengths

One of the major contributing factors in MI’s success is Indian talent flourishing consistently on the big stage. This year too they have a plethora of them, skipper Rohit Sharma, young Ishan Kishan and explosive Suryakumar Yadav in the batting department, Pandya brothers —  Hardik and Krunal — in the all-rounder category and Mayank Markande and Jayant Yadav in the spinners section.

Weaknesses

MI appear a bit short in the pace bowling department. Yes, they have Jasprit Bumrah but if the death-over specialist misses a game due to niggle, back-up option is the returning veteran Lasith Malinga. Also, Hardik is coming back from an injury and he could be gingerly. 

Squad

Rohit Sharma (capt), Quinton de Kock, Jayant Yadav, Ben Cutting, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Anmolpreet Singh, Mayank Markande, Mitchell McClenaghan, Ishan Kishan, Aditya Tare, Jasprit Bumrah, Evin Lewis, Jason Behrendorff, Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Yuvraj Singh, Adam Milne, Rahul Chahar, Siddhesh Lad, Hardik Pandya, Barinder Sran, Pankaj Jaswal, Rasikh Salam, Anukul Roy.