IPL 2018: 5 reasons why Mumbai Indians could not make it to the playoffs

Mumbai Indians, one of the most successful and popular franchises of the Indian Player League, failed to make it to the Playoffs this season despite having a good looking squad on paper. In the first half of the tournament, Mumbai just couldn’t hold on to the key moments and lost a few games that could have gone either way.

With some kind of momentum in the second half of the tournament, MI got themselves in a very difficult position in the end and failed to fulfill the equation needed by them to qualify for the playoffs. As a result, despite having a really good set of players, MI’s title defense came to an end in the league stage itself.

Let us have a look at 5 reasons why MI could not make it to the playoffs this season:

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#5. The three phases of MI's bowling

Mumbai Indian’s journey in the tournament can be divided into 3 distinct phases, in terms of the standout performers in the bowling department. The point worth noting is that in the list of top 10 wicket takers- 3 Mumbai Indians bowlers feature and yet MI could not make it to the playoffs because each of the three bowlers bowled well in a particular phase of the tournament.

While in the initial period, Mayank Markande impressed one and all with his leg spin bowling and wicket-taking ability but he tapered off towards the latter half of the tournament, perhaps becoming too predictable during the course of the league. Markande picked up 15 wickets in 14 games, but much of those came in the initial phase, including a 4 wicket haul, which goes on to show, how ineffective he had been in the latter half.

Similarly, Hardik Pandya was leading MI’s bowling charge in the middle phase when MI had already got themselves in a difficult position. Pandya, not only picked up wickets, but also helped MI stay alive in the competition by picking up wickets. Pandya picked up 18 wickets from 13 games in the IPL and has done no harm to his reputation as a bowler. However, MI would have expected a bit more from him with the bat.

The third phase saw the rise of Jasprit Bumrah who did not have the best of starts in the tournament but came back to his lethal self during the last few games MI played. The fact that MI were able to stay alive in the completion till the last game was because Bumrah, the match winner delivered, for them in crunch situations- something they lacked in the first half of the tournament. 17 wickets from 14 games and an economy of under 7 goes on to show how special a bowler Bumrah is at the death.

#4. Out of touch Kieron Pollard

Pollard was not his destructive self this season

133 runs in 9 matches is not the kind of stuff one expects from Kieron Pollard especially if one is a Mumbai Indians follower. Over the years, Pollard has been a big match winner for Mumbai Indians and whenever the team has needed him to deliver, he has performed and won them games with his big hitting ability.

When MI showed their faith in him at the auctions in Bengaluru, the message was clear- they expected the big man to come good with the bat and win them games purely with his power hitting now that he no longer bowls. However, Pollard wasn’t his former self in this tournament and a major reason why MI struggled in the initial phase of the tournament.

#3. Underutilization of Duminy and Cutting

Ben Cutting's heroics in MI's final league match against DD was only a glimpse of what he could have done

By the time Cutting cut loose, it was too late. As was the case in their last league game, which was a must-win game for Mumbai but one in which they failed to go past Delhi Daredevils. In an attempt to find the right balance and combination, Ben Cutting and JP Duminy played a few games for Mumbai Indians. Both of whose roles remained a mystery. Being all-rounders, Duminy and Cutting brought a lot to the table.

However, the MI think tank neither gave the duo a higher batting number nor the responsibility of bowling overs regularly.

#2. Inability to win key moments of the game

MI

found a way to lose many close games. Case in point, the season opener.

The inability of the unit to hold on to pressure situations and moments that can either strengthen one’s grip on the match or slacken it cost the Mumbai Indians many games this season. Right from their first game in Mumbai where they could have easily gone on to win the match, Mumbai Indians looked tentative and let the situation get better of them.

Despite getting themselves to winning situations repeatedly, MI found a way to lose their games. Such a team rarely makes it to the business end of the tournament and MI were no different.

#1. Out of form skipper

Rohit Sharma did not cross the 300 run mark for the first time in 11 years

One of the most reputed limited overs batsmen in the world, Rohit Sharma failed to deliver with the bat. That MI squad revolves around Rohit’s form was pretty evident. In a few games in which Rohit made some runs, there was no stopping Mumbai Indians but whenever he failed, MI struggled big time.

286 runs in 14 games; the numbers are criminal for someone of the stature of Hitman. It seemed as if he was rushing on a few occasions while he simply didn’t have the choice in some, given that he was not opening. But the Mumbai Indians clearly missed Rohit’s form with the bat and his poor run in the IPL is a massive reason for MI’s exit in the league stage itself.