Mumbai Indians will aim to change their fortunes after having been hit with concerns ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 season. MI are without star pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Aussie pacer Jhye Richardson has also been ruled out of the cash-rich league. After finishing bottom of the 10-team table in IPL 2022, MI could face some struggles. So skipper Rohit Sharma will have his task cut out.
MI roped in Cameron Green in the IPL 2023 auction for a whopping 17.5 crore. Green, who cannot bowl until April 13 in the IPL 2023 season, will be utilised only as a batter until then, limiting MI’s options. Recently, he struck a ton versus India in the 4th Test. MI’s season will revolve around Rohit and Suryakumar Yadav for the heroics in batting. With the ball, the presence of Jofra Archer can be menacing for teams.
MI have a decent outfit though not world class, with some interesting youngsters in the mix. However, things need to come good if they are to mount a challenge. MI look a bit weakened in departments, and this could come back to haunt them. Consistency will be a key factor. Can MI showcase their strengths and come good? Here we decode the probable XI of MI ahead of the IPL 2023 season.
Full squad of MI
Rohit Sharma (c), Tim David, Ramandeep Singh, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Jofra Archer, Arjun Tendulkar, Arshad Khan, Kumar Kartikeya, Hrithik Shokeen, Jason Behrendorff, Akash Madhwal, Cameron Green, Piyush Chawla, Duan Jansen, Vishnu Vinod, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Raghav Goyal
Probable MI XI
Rohit Sharma (c), Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ramandeep Singh, Tilak Varma, Cameron Green, Tim David, Kumar Kartikeya, Arjun Tendulkar, Jofra Archer, Jason Behrendorff
Breaking down MI’s probable XI
Rohit Sharma: Rohit Sharma has been poor by his standards in the IPL of late. In the last two seasons combined, he has just one fifty. He averaged below 20 in IPL 2022. Since 2017, only once Rohit has surpassed 400 runs in a season. A sorry number for an opener. However, MI will rely on the veteran opener for some solid starts upfront. He needs to carry the burden in a positive fashion.
Ishan Kishan: The Indian wicket-keeper batter can take apart any bowling unit on his day, and no wonder MI went all out for him in the mega auction last year. Kishan gave an decent account of himself last season for MI, scoring 418 runs at 32.15. His exploits can help Rohit play the anchor role.
Suryakumar Yadav: Suryakumar Yadav is the best in business when it comes to batting in the 20-over format. He has played some stunning knocks of late and had a dream 2022 for India. Suryakumar has been an established force for MI, and his credentials are laudable. Last season, SKY played eight games and scored 303 runs at 43.29. He has scored over 400 runs in three of the last five seasons.
Ramandeep Singh: Uncapped Indian player Ramandeep Singh could be rotated in that middle order for MI. He played five games in 2022 for MI, scoring 45 runs. Ramandeep, who is an all-rounder, is inexperienced, with just 198 runs and 13 wickets in the format. It remains to be seen how he fares in the initial games.
Tilak Varma: The promising cricketer had a solid IPL 2022 season and was one of the positives for MI. He scored 397 runs in his debut IPL season, and this campaign could be a big one for the talented left-handed batter from Hyderabad. MI will look at his consistency for getting momentum in the middle.
Cameron Green: The Aussie cricketer could be MI’s game-changer. He can fill in the hole left by Kieron Pollard. Green can be destructive, and his big shots will help the side. With the ball, he can be a customer MI can lay their trust upon. He has generally opened for Australia, but here in MI, one expects to see him come lower down at number five or six.
Tim David: David will need to don the role of a finisher for MI, and that number seven position becomes a crucial one. He is one of the big guns when it comes to finishing off games. He can be a power-hitter, strong down the ground. David has scored 3460 runs in the 20-over format. He also has 14 scalps. He scored 186 runs for MI last season (8 matches).
Kumar Kartikeya: He is MI’s main spinner in what is a weak unit. Kartikeya has to utilize his skills and become good. In 4 games, he claimed five scalps last season. Overall in 18 matches, Kartikeya has claimed 19 scalps in the shortest format. It will be a learning curve for the player.
Arjun Tendulkar: Arjun Tendulkar could be handed his MI debut this year. He is a promising left-arm quick and can score some useful runs lower down the order. He has 12 scalps from 9 matches in the 20-over format at just 16.50. MI need to trust the player, who has been with the side for quite some time now.
Jofra Archer: Archer will lead MI’s attack. He is a solid performer and has shown his mettle earlier in the IPL. Archer, who has nursed so many elbow issues of late, is fit and will be raring to go. In 35 games, Archer has 46 scalps in the IPL at 21.33. Archer’s pace and variations could be handy for MI.
Jason Behrendorff: Aussie quick Jason Behrendorff will be MI’s second foreign pacer playing heavily this season. In 119 matches in the shortest format, he has claimed 138 scalps at 22.27. Behrendorff played just five games back in IPL 2019 and claimed 5 scalps. His left-arm pace upfront will be essential for the Rohit Sharma-led outfit.