IPL 2020: SWOT analysis of Mumbai Indians

Four-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have gathered a strong squad for the upcoming season. Rohit Sharma has been absolutely fantastic as a leader and the Indian core of the Pandya brothers and Jasprit Bumrah provide MI the solidity that has made them so successful lately. After dramatically winning the 2019 final against rivals CSK by just 1 run, what is in the store for the defending champions this time around? Let's find out!

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Strengths

Chris Lynn opening alongside Rohit Sharma will be a mouthwatering prospect for MI fans

The intimidating presence of their skipper remains MI's biggest strength. Although he did not have a great 2019 IPL as a batsman, he led his team really well and after having the kind of year that he has had in international cricket, Rohit Sharma is due for a big IPL season at the top of the order. With the hard-hitting Chris Lynn bought by the MI franchise, it will be interesting to see who among Quinton de Kock and Lynn will partner Sharma.

Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard will provide the explosive edge to the MI middle-order

As far as the middle-order is concerned, Suryakumar Yadav will play a really key role for MI. He has been in fantastic form across all formats in the 2019-2020 domestic season and is close to a call-up to the Indian white-ball squad. Along with him, the ever present Kieron Pollard and the Pandya duo of Hardik and Krunal provide strong solidity and firepower that helps MI with strong finishes.

Jasprit Bumrah will be MI's main weapon with the ball both up-front and at the death

Jasprit Bumrah is the main man with the ball for Mumbai and the addition of Trent Boult and Nathan Coulter-Nile has added excellent depth to the overseas fast bowling department with the experienced Lasith Malinga already in the mix. Dhawal Kulkarni has also been a smart trade just in case MI want to play both de Kock and Lynn in the playing eleven.

Weaknesses

Krunal Pandya is a utility all-rounder for MI but cannot be considered as a full-time spinner

Although MI have a very strong squad and can have a selection headache at several positions, it is the spin department where they are a bit thin in experience. Krunal Pandya has been a fantastic utility player for MI ever since his debut in 2016 and has contributed with both bat and ball. However, he does not try to spin the ball more and that is what sometimes goes against him.

Rahul Chahar has been a really great find for MI but he is just 20 years old. MI failed to land Piyush Chawla as they lost in a bidding war with CSK over the 30-year-old leggie. Anukul Roy is another spinner who had contributed to India's U19 World Cup win in 2018 but he too is inexperienced. So overall, MI will be hoping that Chahar and Krunal live up to their expectations because they do not have much quality in that department.

Although there are enough overseas batting options for MI, the lack of another experienced batsman like Suryakumar Yadav would have helped MI to control the middle-overs.

Opportunities

Suryakumar Yadav has a great chance to get himself a national call-up if he has a great IPL 2020

MI has always been a breeding ground for young talents to prosper into world-class players. There is no need to look further than the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya, who have developed into crucial players for India across all formats and have added quality and depth in MI's ranks.

Suryakumar Yadav has had two impressive seasons with MI and has come into national reckoning. Another good season would surely put him in pole position to get selected in India's T20 squad and who knows if he does well he might get a look into India's T20 World Cup squad. Youngsters like Ishan Kishan and Anmolpreet Singh also have massive opportunities on their hands to impress and become future stars.

While Anmolpreet has been performing extremely well in domestic cricket, he can set the IPL on fire if he is able to replicate his form into the tournament and MI might have another future gem in their hands. Kishan might get a more realistic chance as a wicketkeeper if Chris Lynn plays in place of Quinton de Kock. With the likes of Rishabh Pant struggling for form in the Indian team, a successful IPL can but Kishan back in reckoning for India's limited-overs squad.

Threats

Kieron Pollard will need to fire all cylinders in order for MI to push for yet another successful IPL

Kieron Pollard has been with the MI franchise since 2010 and has been a consistent performer for them. Like Lasith Malinga, even Pollard's form has been questionable for Mumbai in the last season and barring a few games here and there, including the finals, Pollard has not been able to dominate the bowlers. MI will have to take tough decisions this time around with the likes of Sherfaine Rutherford in the squad if Pollard starts poorly.

While Jasprit Bumrah is the biggest X factor in the Mumbai Indians' squad, any injury to him is a potential threat. Dhawal Kulkarni is the only decent Indian backup that MI have got in case something happens to Bumrah.

There is enough back-up for Malinga in the pace department in the form of Boult and Coulter-Nile in case he gets injured or shows poor form. However, there is no such quality back-up in the spin department. Thus their weakness could become a threat if they are not able to perform at the required level.

One of the main threats of MI has always been their inability to capitalise on tense moments and thus have lost a number of close games. If they are able to hold their nerves and play to their potential, there is no reason why Rohit Sharma cannot lead MI to the 2020 IPL trophy and become five-time champions.