IPL 2020: SWOT Analysis of Mumbai Indians

MI in IPL 2020: Weaknesses

Can Jasprit Bumrah carry the MI pace attack on his own in IPL 2020?

#1 MI don't have sufficient depth in the spin department

MI might have been able to make to with their current spin department had IPL 2020 taken place in India but in the UAE, they might be exposed by quality players of spin.

Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya are expected to be the only two spinners in the XI, and both are are run-saving rather than wicket-taking options. MI could've used a spinner who depends on flight and guile to pick up wickets rather than Krunal and Chahar, who are both quick through the air and not massive turners of the ball.

MI's options on the bench are Jayant Yadav and Anukul Roy, who have played 12 matches and 1 match respectively. Even after Lasith Malinga, the leading wicket-taker in IPL history, pulled out of the tournament citing personal reasons, the team management chose to replace him with Aussie quick James Pattinson.

MI's lack of depth in the spin department might catch them out in IPL 2020.

#2 MI's pace attack (barring Jasprit Bumrah) is nothing to write home about

Barring Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah, MI's pace attack doesn't look great on paper, or least the players' numbers don't.

Trent Boult, who has an economy rate of 8.78 over the course of his IPL career, played only 5 games last season. New signing Nathan Coulter-Nile hasn't played a single game in the last two IPL seasons, and if he manages to make it into the playing XI, he might be thrown into the deep end.

Dhawal Kulkarni is the only other quality Indian option, and the former Rajasthan Royals pacer has conceded runs at an economy rate of over 9 in all the previous three IPL seasons with only 13 wickets to show for. Pattinson, who is Malinga's replacement, hasn't proven himself in the T20 format as well.

Much of the responsibility might fall on Bumrah's shoulders, and the Indian spearhead might be left with too much to do on his own, especially while returning from such a long break.