#1 Mumbai Indians
It shouldn’t come in as a surprise to anyone that Mumbai Indians are the biggest contenders for a place in the playoffs. There is no cricket franchise on the planet that has managed to put together a squad as good as that of Mumbai Indians. They have won the title 5 times, the most by any team in the league. In fact, they have won the last 2 editions and have a great chance of making it a hat-trick this year. The squad is as good as the one that was fielded last season, if not better this year.
Led by Rohit Sharma, the team is the strongest in the competition. At the top, there is an explosive pair of the captain and Quinton de Kock. Followed by Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, and Krunal Pandya, the batting line-up is as strong as any international team. There is no shortage of firepower at any stage and that’s why no target is out of reach for this team.
Chris Lynn is a giant in the Australian Big Bash League. But the fact, that he didn’t get even a game last year for MI, speaks volumes about the might of the batting unit. However, what adds cherry on top is the contribution of Pollard and the Pandya brothers with the bowl. These three are capable of bowling their full quota of overs which provides a massive cushion for the captain.
If you are already not amazed by the batsmen, then, take a look at the bowlers. Trent Boult swings it miles with the new ball and bags key wickets. Jasprit Bumrah has an aura of his own that can unsettle any batsman at any point in time. Rahul Chahar has done well as the lead spinner and went on to play for the national side. Piyush Chawla brings in his experience this season. The likes of Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Milne and Dhawal Kulkarni only add to the threat. Come 23rd May, a place in the playoffs seems guaranteed for the defending champions.
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