Mumbai Indians IPL 2023 Preview

The Mumbai Indians will look to turn things around in IPL 2023 after their wooden spoon finish last season, but the five-time champions have been plagued by injury issues for the second year running and will spend the entirety of season 16 without another leading pacer. After missing Jofra Archer for the entirety of IPL 2022, Mumbai will be without Jasprit Bumrah throughout the 2023 campaign as the Indian fast-bowler recovers from back surgery.

The Rohit Sharma-led side still have plenty of firepower to stake a claim for a play-off spot this year but will need other key players to step up in the wake of Bumrah’s absence.

Player to watch out for: Cameron Green

The Mumbai Indians splashed the cash on Cameron Green at the 2023 IPL auction, with the Australian all-rounder signed for a team-record amount of INR 17.5 Crores. Green showcased glimpses of his all-round abilities in the three-match series between India and Australia in September 2022, scoring 118 runs in three matches at a strike rate of 214.5. The 23-year-old adds immense firepower to the Mumbai batting line-up as an explosive option as an opener or in the middle order and can also provide 2-3 overs per game as a genuine sixth bowler.

Strengths 

Very few teams that can match Mumbai’s batting might in this IPL. In addition to the dynamic duo of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan at the top of the order, Mumbai have a power-packed middle order filled with an assortment of explosive batters. The number one ranked T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav has established himself as the most dangerous player in the world in the format following his exploits at the T20 World Cup and beyond, while coming in at number four, N Tilak Varma is one of the most promising young Indians in the competition.

Mumbai will be without Kieron Pollard for the first time since 2009, but Tim David, Cameron Green or Tristan Stubbs offer the firepower to ensure that the West Indian’s absence won’t be felt.

Weaknesses

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mumbai’s fast-bowling arsenal lacks the same punch to strike fear in the opposition. An injury to Jhye Richardson has also further weakened MI’s resources, leaving too much responsibility on the shoulders of Jofra Archer, who has only recently returned from injury. The five-time champions also don’t have a frontline spinner to operate through the middle overs, with unproven local talents Hrithik Shokeen and Kumar Kartikeya and veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla the only three viable options for Rohit Sharma to use in the squad.

Possible XI

Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Tim David, Cameron Green, Hrithik Shokeen, Jofra Archer, Kumar Kartikeya, Jason Behrendorff, Akash Madhwal