IPL 2018: 4 game-changers for MI in their bid for the Fourth IPL title

With IPL coming in few days, every team has done equally well in the auction and every team has some power picks this auction. Taking a look at defending champions Mumbai Indians, this team always had great players and always been the favorites. The team consisting of players like Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard and Jasprit Bumrah which makes the team crowd favorite and they always performed well.

Let us look at 4 players who got into Mumbai Indians this year and can really turn on the heat with their performances.

---

Jasprit Bumrah

After having a fantastic 5 seasons of IPL for Mumbai Indians, he was retained yet again by the franchise ahead of this year's IPL auction and he is really going to make it count bigger this time.

In 47 IPL matches he played so far, he has taken 46 wickets with an economy of 8.07 with a strike rate of 22.69. He definitely would be key for the team. He can bowl both at the start of the innings and at the death overs as well. His experience of international cricket would definitely help Mumbai Indians to win their fourth IPL title.

In IPL 2017, Bumrah has played 16 matches for Mumbai Indians and also taken 20 wickets with an economy of 7.35 with best of 3/7. He played a very crucial part last season which helped Mumbai Indians to win the title. His yorkers in death overs has been his remark.

Krunal Pandya

Mumbai Indians all-rounder, Krunal Pandya is known for his match-winning performances with both the bowl and bat. The elder Pandya has been quite effective for MI in both the season he played. He hasn't played any international matches till now but definitely has an experience of IPL.

In 25 IPL he played so far, he contributed 480 with a strike rate of 158.41 and has taken 16 wickets with an economy of 7.15. He was purchased by MI for a whopping Rs. 8.8 crore and became the costliest uncapped player of IPL.

He could be handy for MI with both bat and bowl. The left-hander is also capable of hitting boundaries in death overs which really adds plus point to the team. He is quite economical as far his bowling is concerned. With McClenaghan and Bumrah in his side, he didn't need to worry much about his bowling but had to make his impact with the bat. However, this season, due to an absence of an experienced spinner, the burden of carrying the spin-bowling department of the Mumbai Indians will be on Pandya

Rohit Sharma

Star opener in international cricket and the most explosive cricketer on earth right now, Rohit Sharma scored a magnificent 404 in the inaugural season of the IPL. Playing for Deccan Chargers in the first three seasons, he has been quite sensational with the bat. However, since 2011, Rohit has been an integral part of the Mumbai Indians guiding their batting line-up and the team management would really want him to perform well in this season as well.

If MI has to defend the trophy, he has to be at his best. In 159 IPL matches he played so far, he has made 4207 runs with a strike rate of 130.89 with 1 century and 32 half-centuries to his name.

He is MI's strongest player and being a hard hitter of the white ball, he doesn't allow the bowler to get settle which can really take the game away from the opposition on his day.

Evin Lewis

Coming to international cricket, Evin Lewis looked quite effective in white ball cricket. He is an attacking left-handed opening batsman who has already scored two T20 international centuries.

In all 14 T20I he played so far, he has scored 468 runs at a strike rate of 154.97 with 2 centuries and 2 half-centuries to his name. He can do wonders with the bat for MI, as he is very much capable of hitting big sixes. He has already hit 40 sixes in 14 T20I he played.

He scored both the centuries against India in Indian conditions which really shows the class and temperament he has. It will be very crucial for Mumbai Indians If he stands for 10 or more overs at the crease. Being a West Indian opener, he definitely has the power to hit big from the first ball.

With Mumbai Indians captain Rohit Sharma coming one down to steer the innings followed by the trusted all-rounders, Evin Lewis will have the full license to go from ball one, knowing that there are players coming in after him who can get the team out of trouble if he has a bad day.