Who do you think will win IPL 2017? Which batsman will win the Orange Cap and which bowler will take home the Purple Cap?
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WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR?
Mumbai Indians, by their usual high standards, failed to qualify for the playoffs last season for the first time since 2009.
Coming into the season as defending champions, the Mumbai-based franchise were considered as one of the favourites for the title once again but ended up finishing fifth in the league stage with 14 points [seven wins and seven losses].
Captain Rohit Sharma was the most impressive batsman for Mumbai last season, scoring 489 runs at an average of 44.45 and a strike-rate of 132.88.
In the bowling department, it was New Zealand pacer Mitchell McClenaghan who shone brightest, picking up 17 wickets at an average of 25.64 and an economy rate of 8.17.
On the other hand, there was also all-rounder Krunal Pandya who was relatively unknown at the start of the 2016 season, but thrilled fans with his batting – notching up 237 runs at a strike-rate of 191.12. He also accounted for six wickets with the ball in hand.
WHAT IS NEW THIS YEAR?
In the auction which was held in February, Mumbai bought as many as seven players to bolster what was almost a very strong squad.
The big signing was that of former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson, who was an integral part of the Mumbai team that won the IPL in 2013. With Johnson in the squad, the depth in the fast bowling department is probably the best in the league.
They ended up spending big money on spinners Karn Sharma and K Gowtham, who will add to the squad’s already rich spin bowling resources. Both players are also handy with the bat.
Hard-hitting batsman Saurabh Tiwary returns to the Indians, where he made a name for himself during the 2010 season.
Other new players include Sri Lankan all-rounder Asela Gunaratne, West Indian wicket-keeper Nicholas Pooran, and left-arm Indian pacer Kulwant Khejroliya.
HOW WILL THEY DO?
Rohit Sharma and co. will be delighted to have Lasith Malinga back. The Sri Lankan bowler has been a vital cog of the team for a number of years and was a big miss for them last season.
The depth in the batting department looks a little light, but the squad is stocked with a lot of good all-rounders and bowlers which is a good thing when it comes to T20 cricket.
The Mumbai Indians will enter the 2017 edition of the IPL as one of the favourites and for them, reaching the playoffs will be the bare minimum.
SQUAD LIST
Captain: Rohit Sharma
Batsmen: Ambati Rayudu, Lendl Simmons (overseas), Siddesh Lad, Nitish Rana, Saurabh Tiwary.
All-rounders: Kieron Pollard (overseas), Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Gopal, J Suchith, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Punia, K Gowtham, Asela Gunaratne (overseas).
Wicket-keepers: Parthiv Patel, Jos Buttler (overseas), Jitesh Sharma, Nicholas Pooran (overseas).
Bowlers: Lasith Malinga (overseas), Harbhajan Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, R Vinay Kumar, Mitchell McClenaghan (overseas), Tim Southee (overseas), Mitchell Johnson (overseas), Karn Sharma, Kulwant Khejroliya.
