IPL 2018: 3 Strategic Changes which Mumbai Indians should make to change their fortunes

Mumbai Indians entered this year's Indian Premier League as the defending champions and as the most successful side in the competition. They were the favourites to defend the title as they had managed to maintain the core of the 2017 team which won the league.

Mumbai had a poor start to this year's competition as they managed to pull out a defeat from the jaws of victory against Chennai Super Kings. They managed to get their first victory against Bangalore to arrest their slide, but the performance again has started to deteriorate.

Mumbai Indians have managed to put themselves into a mess, and it is now up to them to sort out their problems and make a comeback on the lines of their 2015 victory. Mumbai Indians have faltered tactically in some aspects and improvement there would go a long way in improving their performance.

#3) Rohit Sharma should Open the batting

Rohit is most dangerous at the top of the batting order

Rohit Sharma is the most important batsman in the Mumbai Indians team and history has shown us that the captain's form is a prerequisite for the success of Mumbai. Being the most important batsman on the team, it is important for him to take the bull by the horns.

Great captains always give maximum balls to their best players, but Rohit being the captain as well as the best batsman in the team hasn't done justice to himself. Suryakumar Yadav has done well at the top but it has been proven time and again that it isn't quite enough for Mumbai.

The only match Mumbai won, Rohit came in to bat in the 3rd delivery of the innings and stayed throughout the course of the 20 overs. He should open the innings and play the role of a sheet anchor and make sure all the other batsmen play around him. His role should be similar to that of Sachin in 2010.

Rohit is an extremely capable player but he has problems in starting against spin. If he was to open, he can use the powerplay to get some runs even if the teams were to start with spin. This would allow him to settle down and once he does that he becomes a dangerous batsman to bowl to in the end overs.

#2) Use Spinners in Powerplay

Markande can be useful in powerplay

Rohit Sharma is one of the few captains who has preferred to not use spinners in the powerplay overs. One reason for this is that his spinners are inexperienced and he therefore has preferred deploying pace bowlers in the powerplay.

Spinners are the most important component of a team, and Mumbai has the likes of Mayank Markande and Rahul Chahar who can spin a web around any batting line up. Therefore, it is important for any captain to use them properly.

The teams which are present at the top of the points table are the ones which have used the spinners in the powerplay to pick up wickets early in the game, as it puts pressure on the opposition from the start.

Mumbai should look to bring in Chahar to the playing X1, as well as try to bowl him in the powerplay and pick up wickets. Chennai has played with three spinners and has been extremely successful, while Mumbai is struggling with Krunal Pandya, who hasn't bowled well this season.

#1) Bring JP Duminy into the Playing X1

Duminy began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2008

JP Duminy is one of the few International players who hasn't played a single game this season. He has the ability to play anywhere in the batting order and will be a useful addition to the struggling Mumbai side.

Kieron Pollard has been struggling at number 5, and it is high time he bats higher in the order or is left out of the Playing X1 altogether, because he hasn't been able to finish the innings for the Mumbai side.

Duminy has played the role of finisher throughout his life, and with Pollard and Pandya brothers performing poorly this season, the time is ripe for Duminy to get a chance. This would also free Pollard from the finishing responsibility and allow him to play in a restrained manner which would help him to regain his form.