Indian Premier League has always been an exciting platform. It acts as an excellent opportunity for the young guns while the established ones look to get a little better. The IPL has seen 13 teams with 6 emerging as Champions over 12 seasons.
We are here with a series of IPL Dream Teams wherein we will be making All Time XIs of the current eight teams in IPL. During this venture, I am being assisted by Raunit Raj and Amit Vikram Singh who have immense knowledge in the field of cricket. We have gone through every player of each team and tried to pick the best of the lot after considering their statistics and performances for the team. We start with Mumbai Indians and will go through each team one by one keeping in mind all the seasons they have played.
Sachin Tendulkar was bagged by Mumbai Indians in the first IPL season. The fan following Sachin carried in International Cricket was enough for Mumbai Indians to build a very strong fan base. Mumbai was not off to a flying start and had two disappointing seasons, even failing to qualify for the playoffs. They reached the finals in 2010 but failed to defeat CSK in the same. However, they had their breakthrough season in 2013 and won the competition by defeating the same counterparts they had lost to in 2010. Since then MI have not looked back and are one of the most successful teams in IPL holding the record for most number of IPL trophies.
They have had some very good players in their journey and their All Time XI looks something like this.
*Statistics of the players are only for their Mumbai Indians career (both in IPL and Champions League)
1. Sachin Tendulkar (2008-13)
Sachin Tendulkar would make a cut in any All Time XI, considering he has played enough. The God of Cricket played for 6 seasons with MI and ended his IPL career with a high in 2013 with a trophy in hand. He had managed to adapt to the shortest format of the game and used to average at around 33 with a hundred to his name.
Innings: 91 Runs: 2599 Average: 32.48 S/R*: 118.62
*S/R - Strike Rate
2. Lendl Simmons ✈️ (2014-17)
There were a couple of options for the second opening spot. We found Dwayne Smith and Quinton De Kock as good options but we couldn't look beyond Lendl Simmons. Simmons can provide us with some fireworks at top and can even play sensibly when needed. He averages 40 in Mumbai Indians shirt which is highest in the franchise.
Innings: 32 Runs: 1175 Average: 40.51 S/R: 125.8
3. Ambati Rayudu (wk) (2010-17)
Rayudu has never been a big face in any team but the support he provides is remarkable. Rayudu had been a notable member of the Mumbai Indian squad for 8 seasons. He had his hands on the trophy for three times with MI and has played some good cricket there. His wicket keeping skills makes him more handy.
Innings: 127 Runs: 2635 Average: 24.39 S/R: 123.36
4. Rohit Sharma (c) (2011- )
Rohit Sharma has been one of the best players in IPL. Sharma is an obvious choice both as a No. 4 batsman and as the captain of the team. Having led his team to 4 IPL titles, Sharma just fits in there. He holds the record for the highest run getter by a MI batsman.
Innings: 148 Runs: 4001 Average: 32.00 S/R: 130.62
5. Kieron Pollard ✈️ (2010- )
Another automatic choice in the XI. Pollard is one of the best in his business. He has the ability to score big as well as bowl at good lengths. His fielding ability makes him a complete player. He has a great strike rate of 146 to his name.
Innings: 157 Runs: 3258 S/R: 146.49 Wickets: 66
6. Hardik Pandya (2015- )
Hardik Pandya has proved his worth at different points. He has shown some excellent all round performance for the team in IPL. His ability to finish at the end is notable. He can be promoted up in the order and can show some fireworks then.
Innings: 61 Runs: 1068 S/R: 154.78 Wickets: 42
7. Krunal Pandya (2016- )
Krunal bagged a record to his name when he was bought back for 8.8 crores by the Mumbai Indians franchise. He had played a couple of seasons before with the team but his real talent was seen thereafter. He is our second spin option and his ability to bat at any position in the middle order makes him the perfect one for the spot. His contender, Surya Kumar Yadav looked a little behind the elder Pandya due to lack of bowling ability. Krunal has a decent economy of 7.16 and can act as our 5th bowling option.
Innings: 48 Runs: 891 S/R: 146.06 Wickets: 40
8. Harbhajan Singh (2008-17)
Bhajji started his IPL career at Mumbai. He came, he performed, he won trophies and then left. One of the finest spinners of the Indian Team has 147 wickets to his name in the blue jersey. He has a very good economy rate which is just below 7.
Matches: 158 Wickets: 147 E/R*: 6.96
*E/R - Economy Rate
9. Lasith Malinga ✈️ (2009- )
Malinga has been a very important part of every MI winning team. Probably, the best bowler in T20 cricket, Malinga holds the record for the highest wicket taker in IPL. His slingas are a nightmare for the batsmen and he has the quality to defend any amount of runs in the last few overs.
Matches: 139 Wickets: 195 E/R: 7.12
10. Jasprit Bumrah (2013- )
Bumrah along with Malinga is a perfect duo. Bumrah has those toe crushing yorkers plus the mixture of slower bowls which make him one of the deadliest bowlers in world cricket right now. Bumrah has been one of the finds of the IPL and an important part of MI squad. He has 85 wickets to his name and an economy of 7.5.
Matches: 80 Wickets: 85 E/R: 7.57
11. Mitchell McClenaghan ✈️ (2015- )
There were two Mitches fighting for the final spot. Johnson had only played 28 games whereas McClenaghan had incredible numbers. He has 71 wickets to his name in 56 games for Mumbai Indians which is very impressive. He can swing the ball during the initial stages of the innings and provide you with a couple of good overs in the middle.
Matches: 56 Wickets: 71 E/R: 8.49
Do tell us if you have had any other player in mind who might have found a place in the XI. This is the first one of our IPL Dream Team Series. We have a lot coming up. Stay Tuned. Keep Reading Openions!
- Kshitij
Great work👍
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