IPL 2024: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Mumbai Indians For The New IPL Season

Mumbai Indians (MI) were the most successful team in the Indian Premier League (IPL) until last year when Chennai Super Kings equalled their title tally of five. MI's primary objective this season will be to perform consistently and win their sixth title. In this article, we will look at the team’s coaching staff, the squad, their history, and the schedule for this season.

Clouds of controversy are looming above the Wankhede Stadium as an unexpected change in captaincy could disturb their gameplay this season. MI have won five IPL titles and all of those have come under the leadership of Rohit Sharma, who is also India’s all-format captain. However, MI have made a significant change by instating Hardik Pandya as the new skipper.

The all-rounder has returned to Mumbai after a two-year spell with Gujarat Titans. During that stint, Pandya was the Titans’ skipper, and his captaincy credentials speak for themselves. In 2022, he led them to a title win in their debut year. Last year, he followed that up with a runners-up finish.

Last December, Pandya was acquired by Mumbai during a pre-season trade for an undisclosed sum. Having arrived on the back of two hugely successful seasons at Titans, expectations are riding high on Mumbai Indians this year as they aim to break a four-year title drought, having last won in 2020.

Mumbai Indians are the costliest franchise in IPL. In 2008, Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of the Reliance Group, acquired the franchise for approximately INR 487 crore. His wife, Nita Ambani, and his son, Akash Ambani, run the team. MI have big investments in other leagues, as they run MI Cape Town (SA20), MI New York (MLC), MI Emirates (ILT20), and MI Women (WPL).

Mumbai Indians will be coached by Mark Boucher this season. The former South Africa wicketkeeper will have a large contingent of support staff members. 

Kieron Pollard, the former West Indies captain and one of Mumbai’s most prolific IPL players, is the batting coach. Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga, who played for 11 years with MI, returns as their bowling coach after a short stint with Rajasthan Royals. 

James Pamment is the fielding coach. Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene and former India fast bowler Zaheer Khan are part of the team management as directors. Sachin Tendulkar, the India legend, is the team mentor.

Pandya returns to boost the middle order. MI have traded fellow all-rounder Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore. Dilshan Madushanka and Gerald Coetzee, two of their auction picks, are doubtful for the initial phase of the competition because of injuries. The franchise’s liking for unconventional fast bowlers is well known, and this season, they’ve signed one of Malinga’s proteges—Nuwan Tushara.

There is a slight concern over Suryakumar Yadav's availability. The No. 1 ranked T20I batter hasn’t played competitive cricket since December after undergoing surgery for a sports hernia in Germany. Suryakumar hasn’t received a fitness clearance from the Indian cricket board and could miss at least the first two matches.

Australia fast bowler Jason Behrendorff, who played a key part in the powerplay last year, won’t be playing this time due to injury. He broke his leg in a freak accident in Perth prior to his departure for the IPL. Mumbai Indians have signed England’s Luke Wood as a replacement. The 28-year-old has picked 147 wickets in 140 T20Is and has played in franchise leagues around the world. This will be his first stint in the IPL.

Not all is doom and gloom, though. They will welcome the return of Jasprit Burmah, who missed the previous season because of a back injury. Burmah has been injury-free for five months now and was India’s key bowler in their run to the World Cup final. He recently featured in four of the five home Tests against England and picked up 19 wickets, the most among seamers of both sides.

Mumbai Indians failed to win a title for the first five seasons of the IPL and then broke the duck in 2013, a season in which Rohit transformed the franchise's fortunes after taking over as captain midway from Ricky Ponting.

From there on, MI won a title in every alternate year until 2019 (that’s 2015, 2017, and 2019) and then won the most recent of their five titles in 2020. Their most forgettable year came in 2022 when the team finished last among ten teams.

It’s a tantalizing prospect that many are waiting for as Mumbai open their IPL 2024 campaign against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 24. Pandya will walk out to toss in Mumbai’s blue against his former franchise in his home state.

Mumbai then fly to Hyderabad to play the Sunrisers on March 27 before returning home to play their next two games against Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals on April 1 and April 7, respectively.

For the moment, IPL has announced the schedule for the first two weeks of the competition as they await instructions from the Indian government regarding the schedule for the federal elections, which are expected to have multiple phases. The entire schedule is likely to be available soon.