Pragyan Ojha, a former India spinner believes that Mumbai Indians look like a ‘complete side’ before IPL 2021. However, he cautioned that MI shouldn’t get overconfident in their quest to clinch their third successive title in the impending lucrative T20 league.
Defending champion Mumbai Indians will take on Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore in the opening match of the 2021 edition of the IPL. Indian Premier League’s 14th edition will be held in India after BCCI decided to hold the 2020 edition in UAE due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Pragyan Ojha: Mumbai Indians Looks A Complete And A Solid Confident Side But Shouldn’t Be Overconfident
Several sides will again be vying for the IPL title this year but the favourites again look to be five-time champions Mumbai Indians. The Rohit Sharma-led side has been dominant in the last two years and has grabbed the title in two successive seasons.
“MI looks a complete side, they haven’t changed much in the past couple of years. Even in the auction this year they were looking for replacements.”
“Their entire team is set, and they look a very solid side. With back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020, I think they look like the most confident side. They should have confidence but not be overconfident,” Pragyan Ojha said on Sports Today.
Rohit Sharma has so far led the Mumbai Indians to five title wins in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. The likes of keepers Ishan Kishan (516), Quinton De Kock (503), and batsman Suryakumar Yadav (480) were consistent with the bat to help the side clinch their 2nd successive IPL title. Jasprit Bumrah claimed 27 wickets at 14.96 to finish as 2nd leading wicket-taker behind Kagiso Rabada.
Ahead of IPL 2021 auction, Mumbai Indians had released seven players out of their squad in the likes of Lasith Malinga, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Pattinson, Sherfane Rutherford, and Mitchell McCleneghan.
Pragyan Ojha: IPL Is All About How The Players Gel Together
MI, the most successful franchise in IPL history, has won five titles in the last eight years and once again look like the team to beat. Australia pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile turned out to be Mumbai Indians’ biggest buy as he was brought back at INR 5 crores.
Mumbai Indians also inducted New Zealand pacer, Adam Milne, into their team. The right-arm pacer was bought for INR 3.2 crores. Mumbai Indians also spent INR 20 lakh to buy Sachin Tendulkar’s son Arjun Tendulkar in their team and bought New Zealand allrounder James Neesham for INR 50 lakh.
“I say this before every IPL that the tournament is all about how the players gel together. You can have 11 amazing individuals but as a team they might not gel because they don’t have the time to get to know each other. The biggest challenge is how everyone gels together, what kind of form they are in, what kind of mental space they are in.”