IPL 2018: 3 things Mumbai Indians should do to arrest their downfall

Mumbai Indians entered the Indian Premier League 208 as a heavy favorite to retain their trophy. At the end of the auction day, it looked like Mumbai had assembled a decent squad on paper. Right now, the competition has not even reached its two-third stage. However, the possibility of Mumbai reaching the playoff looks thin in this earlier stage itself.

Every team will look to win all seven of their home matches. However, Mumbai had already lost three of their four home matches. So far, Mumbai had registered just a single victory at the end of their six games. Despite this disappointment, Mumbai can still make it to the playoffs if they perform exceptionally well in the second half of the tournament. Mumbai can gain confidence by looking back at their comebacks in the previous seasons. Right now, Mumbai Indians need to sit down and analyze the following three options that can help them to arrest their downfall.

#3 Drop Mustafizur Rahman

Adam Milne can provide the much-needed pace for MI

The Bangladeshi pacer broke into the limelight with his deceptive slow off-cutters and devastated Yorkers. He was a revelation for the Sunrisers Hyderabad during their title-winning 2016 edition. In fact, he became the first overseas player to win the ‘Emerging Player of the Tournament’ award. However, he looks like a pale shadow of himself for Mumbai Indians. In this year, he has picked only four wickets during the death overs (16-20) with the economy rate of 9.05.

It is right time for MI to pick Adam Milne in place of Fizz. Milne's overall T20 economy rate is just 7.06. Besides that, he can bowl consistently around 145 km/hr. We all knew, how Billy Stanlake and Jofa Archer troubled the batsmen with their pace in the recent games. Milne's inclusion in the playing XI can add a new dimension to their bowling attack.

#2 Drop Kieron Pollard

JP Duminy can provide stability to misfiring MI middle-order

Kieron Pollard has been in horrendous form with the bat for MI. It looks like MI think-tank no longer rates Pollard as an all-rounder as he is yet to bowl in this season. In the first match against Chennai Super Kings, Pollard did not get any opportunity either with the bat or with the ball. He was a mere spectator in the opening match against CSK. His dismissals against Delhi Daredevils and Sunrisers Hyderabad exposed his batting woes in this season.

Pollard is the only player in the current squad to be associated with Mumbai Indians for the past nine years. Nevertheless, it is time for Mumbai to move away from the past emotions and replace the veteran with another T20 veteran JP Duminy.

Being a seasoned campaigner, Duminy can add stability to their misfiring inconsistent middle-order. Duminy can even chip in some vital overs with his off-breaks. Besides, he can also bowl up front in the Powerplay. His inclusion can allow Rohit Sharma to play with much more freedom as he has carried the middle-order burden alone in the recent games. Duminy can provide the much-needed momentum for Mumbai Indians, and he can soon turn out to be their ‘X-factor.'

#1 Find the new ‘Ambati Rayudu’

Saurabh Tiwary can emulate the role of 'Ambati Rayudu'

Ambati Rayudu was the unsung hero of Mumbai Indians in all of their title victories. Rayudu was a consistent performer for MI in the past eight years. Even in the historic run chase of 190 in 14.3 overs against Rajasthan Royals in 2014, Rayudu had scored 30 runs from just ten deliveries. However, many as usual did not notice his valuable contribution. In his entire time with the franchise, he used to stay under the radar. Mumbai missed a massive trick in this year’s IPL auction by not retaining the service of Rayudu.

All Mumbai can do right now is to identify the new ‘Ambati Rayudu’ in their current squad. Saurabh Tiwary had an outstanding season with MI during the 2010 season. However, his performances went downhill from the 2011 season. He scored a 50 in his only match for MI last year. If the team management backs him with enough chances, then Tiwary can surely fill the void left by Rayudu. This move can massively benefit the Mumbai Indians in the more extended run.