MI look to decode success formula with altered engine room

Overview:

After having spent a good part of the last two seasons of the Indian Premier League in UAE, the 2022 edition is set to be as homely a tournament as it could get for Mumbai Indians - with all the matches set to be held within the 140-odd km stretch from Brabourne Stadium in south Mumbai to Gahunje in Pune.

Much like they have preferred in the past, there will be a sense of familiarity within the make-up of the squad even though they have lost two crucial members of their successful core - the Pandya brothers.

The Engine Room has been altered but Mumbai Indians have been there and done that. They have an all-weather team of players, support and coaching staff that has managed to decode the success mantra of the most competitive T20 league.

There are going to be a few alterations in personnel but that's unlikely to affect their modus operandi. Ishan Kishan, for one, will be promoted to open the batting alongside Rohit Sharma, while Tilak Varma and Tim David will be honed to fill in duties of the middle order.

The bigger change though is in the bowling department, which has been the backbone of MI's success. All that remains to be seen is whether the new recruits can blend into the culture of the perfectionists.

League Phase Venue Split

Mumbai Indians' campaign is set to kickstart on March 27 against Delhi Capitals at the Brabourne Stadium, which will host two more games. After making a brief stop at the DY Patil Stadium for an encounter against Rajasthan Royals they will move to Pune for their next three matches - against Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants.

While Brabourne will host three of their games, much like the MCA Stadium in Pune, Mumbai Indians will play four games at the DY Patil Stadium. Interestingly, their last three league games - against Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals - will be played at their most familiar surface of the Wankhede Stadium. The stadium, which has served as the home ground for the franchise, will also host four of their league matches this season.

How did MI fare at the auction?

Beyond all the success mantras that champion IPL teams have discovered, none is more evident than the need to have a stable core. Mumbai Indians, much unlike their wishes, had to part ways with some of the members of their core and shell out big bucks to retain some at the mega auction. In the long run, especially with the acquisition of Jofra Archer, it seems like they have assembled a lethal squad. But in his absence, there remain a few concerns in the bowling department.

Even as the Pandya brother have had to leave the setup, MI have found reasonable replacements through Tim David and Sanjay Yadav. However, the focus will be on the development of Dewald Brevis and Tilak Varma - the two promising youngsters picked by the side.

The spin department continues to remain their weakest link yet again, but it is unlikely that they would need much help from the tweakers. On the pace front, even in the absence of Jofra this season, they are well equipped with the presence of Tymal Mills, Daniel Sams, Jaydev Unadkat, Jasprit Bumrah, Riley Meredith and Basil Thampi.

Strengths and Weaknesses

MI continues to remain a power-packed batting side. With Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav and Kieron Pollard still in the side, their batting approach is unlikely to alter. The presence of Tilak Varma and Tim David amply fills in for Quinton de Kock and Hardik Pandya to continue with their template of success.

Mumbai Indians' spin department is clearly their weakest suit, much like it has been for several seasons. Yet, with Sanjay Yadav, Fabien Allen, Mayank Markande and Murugan Ashwin, there is ample quality to give effective results.

Tactics Watch

Mumbai Indians have enjoyed having a pace attack of a left-arm pacer to go along with Jasprit Bumrah and a hit the deck pacer. The options for the former include Daniel Sams, Jaydev Unadkat and Tymal Mills, while Riley Meridith and Basil Thampi offer them hit-the-deck pace options. It remains to be seen if MI would be tempted to operate with two foreign pacers or one, the latter of which would allow them to play Fabian Allen.

Uncapped Player to Watch

Hailing from a humble background in Hyderabad, Tilak Varma didn't quite set the 2020 Under-19 world cup on fire. But since then, he has been a consistent run-getter across formats in domestic cricket, making him an invaluable pick. MI splurged INR 1.7 Crore to get his services, and if their ever-reliable scouting network has got it right, he could be a player to watch out for even amidst a host of other big-names in MI's line-up.

Probable XI

Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (unlikely to be available for the first match), Tim David, Kieron Pollard, Sanjay Yadav, Mayank Markande/Murugan Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Tymal Mills/Daniel Sams, Riley Meredith