Money is not everything and this adage more or less can be associated with Mumbai Indians, one of the hot properties in the Indian Premier league (IPl).
Since the day when Mukesh Ambani bought the rights for the Mumbai franchise with the highest bid of `496 crore, the highest at the start, the franchise has showcased its splurging power by rolling out big bucks for players (this time Glenn Maxwell with a price of $1 million) and roping in a long list of support staff.
They are second in terms of matches won by coming on top 43 times in 77 matches with a winning percentage of 55.84% percentage. After failing in first two editions, they were back on track in the third with a runners-up finish. They were in contention in the next two editions, but, again they faltered just before the final hurdle. Apart from the first two times, they have been consistent.
With the kind of talent they possess, they will be again the team to watch out for and could well go onto win the trophy, which has been elusive.
But, what is the need of the hour is to regroup under a new captain Ricky Ponting and new coach John Wright. They also need to find the trick and luck factor which they miss during big matches.
One of the problem they usually face are the big changes they do every season in their squad.
This time, during the auction, they have recruited five new players in Ponting, Maxwell, Coulter-Nile, Jacob Oram and Phillip Hughes and they are supposed to fill in the loopholes, they sometimes find. Rohit Sharma and Ambati Rayudu are crucial players.
In batting, Sachin Tendulkar walking out with his long-time competitor and rival — Ponting will be an exciting sight. They don’t have too much of problems in batting. But, at times in big matches during a chase, their idea of Sachin holding the fort for long and getting out with the asking rate moving up is a problem.
When the likes of Kieron Pollard come in, they have to blast from the first ball with a required rate of more than 12. Now, with the likes of Oram, Maxwell and Smith are there, it will be a powerful batting unit.
lasith Malinga has been the best bowler in the IPl journey with 83 wickets with an very good economy rate of 6.36 and he will be the trump card with his yorkers and odd slow-balls. He will share the bowling leadership with experienced Harbhajan Singh.
The question remains is can Ponting show them the way to win big matches, which he is known for as an AustralianIJ