CLT20 bite-size preview: Mumbai Indians

Cricket365
September 16, 2014

Mumbai are the only side to have won this event twice, and are the defending champions, making it all the more interesting that they failed to reach the main draw first time around.

Brief Overview: Mumbai are the only side to have won this event twice, and are the defending champions, making it all the more interesting that they failed to reach the main draw first time around. Their IPL was not the best, and while they will probably reach the main 10, they'll have a longer tournament than most. They also lost their skipper, Rohit Sharma, to make life a bit tougher.

Key Strength: Mumbai, like the other IPL sides, have a very strong foreign line-up, especially when it comes to batting. Veteran Mike Hussey, New Zealander Corey Anderson, and Windies all-rounder Kieron Pollard can rack up 200 runs on their own if they get going. Opposition bowlers will have to be on the money, especially with Ambhati Rayudu also in good form after his efforts in England.

Probable Weakness: They don't have a settled skipper, and many a team has found that a solid leader is vital to success. Rohit was ruled out with a finger injury, so the captaincy could go to Lasith Malinga, Harbhajan or Pollard. It's a big blow because Rohit had done well since taking over from Ricky Ponting. Added to this, the loss of Mitchell Johnson to KXIP proved debilitating in this year's IPL.

Batsman To Watch: Tricky. Corey Anderson was all the rage before the IPL but didn't really fire, while Mike Hussey arrived from Chennai and also failed to replicate his form with CSK. But we'll give Mr Cricket the benefit of the doubt, and say he's going ton rack up the runs.

Bowler To Watch: Lasith Malinga, obviously. The Slinga is prolific in the IPL, almost unplayable in India compared to in other countries and series, and he will be vital to the team's success, especially with his death bowler prowess, where his toe-cracking yorkers often prove the difference between the sides. He is fourth on the tournament's wicket-taker list.

Squad: Harbhajan Singh, Ambati Rayudu, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, Aditya Tare, Jalaj Saxena, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Gopal, Michael Hussey, Kieron Pollard, Corey Anderson, Lasith Malinga, Marchant de Lange, Lendl Simmons.

Toughest Fixture: Given we don't know what group they will be in (we're assuming they will make it into the group stage), their toughest fixture will probably be against Lahore. Taking place on the opening day, 13 September, Mumbai will want to make their lives easier by getting this one out of the way with a win.

They Said: Lahore skipper Mohammad Hafeez: "Mumbai Indians will miss the leadership of Rohit Sharma. He is a very good player of the side. Still they have a good team and we are ready to take on them."

Cricket365's Prediction: Won't qualify for tournament proper.