MUMBAI INDIANS

The Mumbai Indians for this season are a completely different unit having bought 16 new players in this year’s auction, retaining only 5. The men from Mumbai have the likes of Aaron Finch,Corey Anderson and Kieron Pollard in their ranks who’s games are tailor made for this format of the game. Ricky Ponting has been appointed as the head coach and Shane Bond will be lending his services as the new bowling coach. A completely new unit, the Indians look to have started from a fresh new page and will hope for greener pastures as far as the results are concerned.

Squad: Rohit Sharma, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard(O), Ambati Rayudu, Harbhajan Singh, Corey Anderson(O),Aditya Tare,Jaspit Bumrah, Josh Hazelwood(O),Marchant de Lange(O),Pawan Suyal, Shreyas Gopal, Lendl Simmons(O), Aaron Finch, Pragyan Ojha, Mitchell McClenaghan(O), Abhimanyu Mithun,Aiden Blizzard(O), Akshay Wakhare, Nitish Rana, Siddhesh Lad, Hardik Pandya, Jagadeesha Suchitch,Unmukt Chand,Vinay Kumar,Parthiv Patel

Players Retained: Rohit Sharma, Aditya Tare, Ambati Rayudu, Corey Anderson, Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Keiron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Marchant de Lange, Pawan Suyal, Shreyas Gopal, Lendl Simmons

Players Released: Michael Hussey, Praveen Kumar, Ben Dunk, Pragyan Ojha, Jalaj Saxena, Krismar Santokie, Sushant Marathe, Apoorv Wankhade, Zaheer Khan, C.M. Gautam.

Coach: Ricky Ponting

Captain: Rohit Sharma

Most Expensive Player: Aaron Finch (Australia) – 3.2 crore

IPL 7 Position: 5th

Owners: Reliance Industries, Mukesh Ambani

Keys to success:

1. Rohit Sharma: Taking over the mantle from Sachin Tendulkar as the captain of the team, Sharma holds the key to the success of the team. Having already taken the Mumbai Indians to the title in the 6th season of the IPL, the players and the owners will be looking towards him to take them all the way this time as well.

2. Bench Strength: The bench strength of the Mumbai Indians is probably one of the strongest in the tournament. They have strong overseas players with the likes of Lendl Simmons, Josh Hazelwood and Aiden Blizzard warming the bench and they will be raring to go if and when they get a chance.

3.Coaching Unit: The blues from Mumbai also have Ponting as the head coach and Shane Bond as their bowling coach.Not to forget the involvement of Sachin Tendulkar as the mentor from time to time. With such legends to fall back upon in times of need, the Mumbai Indians will not have to look too far for inspiration in the presence of these legends.

Likely Playing XI: Rohit Sharma(C), Aaron Finch, Harbhajan Singh, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga,Parthiv Patel(WK),Corey Anderson, Jaspit Bumrah,Aditya Tare,Unmukt Chand,Vinay Kumar.

*O: Overseas Player