Mumbai Indians (MI) - IPL 5 Analysis
The Mumbai Indians, or should we call them Mumbai Internationals, was undoubtedly the strongest side in the IPL. They were the Manchester City of the tournament. After two poor seasons they finally bought enough good players to end season 3 as the finalists and bought even more players last season to end at 3rd. With the title still eluding them IPL 5 saw yet more acquisitions. The biggest change for MI this season was the transfer of captaincy from Sachin to Bhajji. It was a desperate attempt to get their strategy right, but unfortunately it did not work. Harbhajan seemed like he did not enjoy his new role and like a person learning to ride a bike, MI had starting problems. Unsettled at the top of the order, Sachin often found himself batting with a stranger at the opposite end. MI failed as a team but still managed to reach the play-offs on the back of some brilliant individual performances.
| Opposition | Matches | Wins | Losses | N/R | Wins (%) |
| v CSK | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 67% |
| v DC | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
| v DD | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| v KKR | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| v KXIP | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| v PWI | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| v RCB | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| v RR | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Hits:
Rohit Sharma:
That he is talented has always been well known. This IPL, he did manage to secure 2 man of the match awards. His performances in some of the other matches were also commendable. However, according to our table (given below), even though his match winning contribution stands at 24.77%, his consistency lags behind at 33.33%. Apart from those 2 innings, his ability to soak up pressure and single-handedly take the team home to victory (as quantified by turn around potential) was not up to the mark. But in a team filled with heavyweights, none of whom played to potential, Rohit was the only saving grace. Nevertheless, his performance belies the talent he possesses.
Lasith Malinga:
As always, the Slinga' from Lanka was in the reckoning for the purple cap. According to our stats, his strike rate, economic, average and wicket taking efficiencies are above 100 indicating he was MI's best bowler almost every match. He ended up with 22 wickets from 14 matches.
Flops:
Richard Levi:
After a belligerent century for his national team, South Africa, Richard Levi was supposed to be the next big thing in T-20. Mumbai Indians played him in 6 games. Apart from a fifty on debut, Levi barely managed to score double figures in the other matches. He averages 13.83, but what's worse is touted as being a big hitter, Levi's Strike-rate efficiency is only 46.12%. In the matches that he played, on an average Levi managed to contribute only 10.23% of the entire team's total. Superb in the first game, but a dud in the others.
Surprises:
Dhawal Kulkarni:
He got only 2 games in the whole tournament, but impressed one and all. He wasn't afraid to pitch the ball up and ended up picking 6 wickets. Surprisingly made to sit out in place of some lesser bowlers Dhawal made MI rue their decision.
Performance of our Darkhorses:
R Levi & M Johnson:
Based on their performances in the previous T-20s that they have played for their national and other teams, Levi and Johnson were picked out by us as players to watch out for. Unfortunately Johnson injured himself and did not play a single game, while Levi finds himself in our Flops.