After months of boardroom plotting, weeks of speculation and a lavish auction that has become a phenomenon in itself, the wait is almost over.
The Indian Premier League gets under way in April, and it promises to be the most open in recent memory, such is the nature of the competition.
Here is all you need to know about Mumbai Indians, from rising stars and the ones to watch to their title chances.
What’s their IPL pedigree?
The champions will be looking to pick up where they left off. A stunning final over from Mitchell Johnson against Rising Pune Supergiant set Mumbai Indians on their way to the IPL title. It was all the more remarkable given their score total of 129 for 8, one of the lowest in final history. Last year’s triumph was Mumbai’s third in the IPL, following 2013 and 2015, and in the process became the most decorated team in the tournament.
Who’s in charge?
Mahela Jayawardene, former Sri Lankan cricketer, has kept his place as head coach. Winning the IPL in his debut season for Mumbai caught the eye of the Bangladesh Premier League, where franchise club Khulna Titans appointed him as their coach on a two-year deal. For the meantime, Jayawardene’s attentions are firmly on Mumbai and he would be glad to retain the services of Rohit Sharma as captain. The Indian top-order batsman, who excels at ODI, has been at Mumbai Indians since 2011. All three of their IPL-winning campaigns share a common denominator: Sharma was captain.
Who are the big names?
Alongside Sharma, Krunal Pandya was at the heart of Mumbai Indians’ successful campaign last season. As a middle-order batsman, he scored 47 runs in the final from 38 balls, setting the team on their way to regaining the IPL trophy. Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard are strong allrounders; the latter in 2017 was the second leading run-scorer for Mumbai with an average of 29.61. The bowling attack is one of the team’s best assets and in seamer Jasprit Bumrah, they have a cricketer who specializes in T20. His economy rate last year was 7.41, taking 20 wickets.
