IPL 2018: 4 reasons why Mumbai Indians failed to qualify for the playoffs

Mumbai Indians failed to reach playoffs for the fourth time
Mumbai Indians failed to reach playoffs for the fourth time

From the year 2014, the month of April has been a disastrous period for Mumbai Indians. In the meantime, the month of May has been a resurgence period for the three-time Champions.

Having completed the first decade of Indian Premier League as the most successful team in the history of the competition, huge expectations hung over the heads of the Mumbai franchise ahead of the 2018 season.

The same old story unfolded again for the defending Champions in the eleventh season of IPL. However, in this year, Mumbai Indians could not replicate their usual ‘MAYhem’ heroics as they stumbled in the final hurdle.

Mumbai Indians defeat against Delhi Daredevils in the penultimate league match of the ongoing season confirmed their exit in the tournament.

Despite possessing a balanced squad, Mumbai failed to play to their full potential on the field. It is only the fourth time that the Mumbai franchise was unable to qualify for the playoffs. On that note, let us look at the reasons that dented their qualification in this season.


#4 Failing to utilize the ‘Home’ advantage

Wankhede Stadium is no more a 'fortress' for Mumbai Indians
Wankhede Stadium is no more a 'fortress' for Mumbai Indians

In any format of the game, home teams will try to utilize their home advantage as much as possible. Every team will try to make its home venue a ‘fortress.’ In a tournament like IPL, each team will look to win all seven of their home matches.

Surprisingly, Mumbai Indians had won just three of their seven home games in this season. Wankhede Stadium had always played a pivotal role in all of their past seasons' memorable comebacks.

However, Mumbai had failed miserably in the utilization of home advantage in this season. Almost for the entire season, Mumbai remained toothless in their den.

#3 Poor contributions from middle-order

Pollard managed to score only 133 runs from eight innings
Pollard managed to score only 133 runs from eight innings

Ahead of the 2018 season, Mumbai Indians retained their past middle-over heroes - Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, and Kieron Pollard.

Mumbai’s think-tank had a vast belief in these three men. Besides, Mumbai also bought JP Duminy and Ben Cutting for a decent cost. Mumbai Indians middle-order looked very strong on paper. However, they failed to execute their skills on the field.

Mumbai’s middle-order looked fragile in the entire tournament. It never clicked in unison. The biggest disappointment among them was Kieron Pollard.

With his batting prowess becoming wane, it will not be a massive surprise if the franchise decided to let him go for the 2019 edition.

#2 Inability to finish off games

Mumbai came very close in both of their defeats against SRH
Mumbai came very close in both of their defeats against SRH

April 7 (vs CSK), April 12 & 24 (vs SRH), April 22 (vs RR) - Had Mumbai won at least a single game in this list, they would have reached the playoffs with ease.

In these matches, Mumbai had one foot in their opponent’s throat. Instead of going for the kill, Mumbai somehow strangely lost their hold and gave their opponents a slim chance of a comeback.

In a trimmed format like T20, a tiny loophole is enough for a team to steal the game. These repeated failures in crucial junctures, made the most significant difference at the end.

If Mumbai had won all these matches, then the points table at the end of the league matches would have looked very different.

#1 Poor form of Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma had a disappointing IPL 2018 campaign
Rohit Sharma had a disappointing IPL 2018 campaign

Rohit Sharma was the third highest run-scorer for MI in the 2018 season. Rohit scored just 286 runs from 14 innings.

Rohit Sharma showed his occasional brilliance in the matches against Royal Challengers Bangalore and Chennai Super Kings. He bagged Man-of-the-Match awards in both of those matches.

For the first time in his 11-year old IPL career, Rohit has failed to reach the 300-run mark. The frequent shuffling of the batting order and indifferent form of middle-order, were the significant factors behind the abysmal form of the Mumbai skipper.

It was a below-par performance by Rohit in the 2018 season.

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Edited by Akhilesh Tirumala