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Cricket News: MI IPL Mega Auction Analysis: Will they make it 6 Titles? | Mumbai Indians IPL 2022 Mega Auction Analysis: How did they perform?

The most exciting part of the Indian Premier League, i.e., the IPL mega auction is over now. We witnessed some tremendous purchases, as well as some poor ones in the grand-trade festival that lasted for two days.

The blueprint of each of the ten teams is set and fans across the globe have begun to speculate the strengths and weaknesses of their favourite teams.

Let’s review the performance of the most successful side in the IPL, the Mumbai Indians, in the recently concluded Mega Auction.

Mumbai Indians Possible XI for IPL 2022

Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tim David, Kieron Pollard, Fabian Allen/Daniel Sams, Mayank Markande/Murugan Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Jaydev Unadkat, Tymal Mills

MI IPL 2022 Auction Analysis: What did Mumbai have before the auction?

First, let’s analyze what they had and what they needed prior to the auction. Mumbai had a brilliant pace hitter up the order in the form of Rohit Sharma, a dynamic player of spin in SuryaKumar Yadav, an experienced pace-hitting finisher in Kieron Pollard and the finest limited-overs bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

They needed to pick a flamboyant opening partner for Rohit who could capitalize on the field restrictions, fill the middle order with some good names, pick their spinners, and assist Bumrah with quality pace bowlers.

Key strength: Batting

They have ticked the first box quite brilliantly by getting Ishan Kishan back, spending more than 15 crores on the keeper-batsman. Firstly, he will be Rohit’s opening partner, and he strikes at over 155 when opening the batting in the IPL. Secondly, he certainly is an option to lead the side in future after Rohit’s departure. So, this was definitely MI’s finest buy in the auction.

Apart from Kishan, MI bought Tilak Varma, a promising talent from Hyderabad, who is expected to be a part of their playing XI. Tilak bats at the top of the order and scored 215 runs at an average of 35.83 and an outstanding strike rate of 147.26 in the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The remaining two batters in their lineup will be Tim David and either of Daniel Sams and Fabian Allen. Tim David, the most expensive Australian in IPL 2022, has been in red-hot form in the ongoing PSL and is expected to handle the finishing job alongside Kieron Pollard. Sams and Allen are capable finishers who can contribute well with the bat coming at number 7, and thus MI have successfully formed a good batting lineup.

Strength: Building young core for the future

One of the biggest positives for MI in the auction was the young core they have assembled. Their vision for the future is commendable considering the fact that they have invested in the likes of Dewald Brevis, Tilak Varma, Sanjay Yadav, Rahul Buddhi and Arshad Khan.

Archer will be a big miss in IPL 2022, but once fit, MI will have an insane pace duo of Bumrah and Archer.  

Weaknesses: Lack of quality Indian bowling options

Now if we talk about their bowling, MI seem to have compromised slightly in this category, with the prime reason being their desire to have Jofra Archer from 2023. They let many good options go and spent 8 crores on Archer who will miss this season owing to his recovery from an injury.

To compensate, MI have picked two decent overseas fast bowlers in Tymal Mills and Riley Meredith. Mills has done well with the ball in recent times and is expected to be their death bowler alongside Bumrah.

However, their Indian picks Jaydev Unadkat and Basil Thampi don’t inspire too much confidence. Also, their spinners Murugan Ashwin and Mayank Markande are relatively inexperienced at IPL level. So, their perennial weakness of not having a great spin attack is likely to persist in the coming few years.

MI IPL 2022 Auction Analysis: Key strengths and weaknesses – summary

Strengths: Brilliant top order, dynamic finishers

Weakness: Spin department, death bowling apart from Bumrah

Mumbai Indians IPL 2022 final squad

Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Kieron Pollard, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Tim David, Daniel Sams, Fabian Allen, Riley Meredith, Tymal Mills, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, Murugan Ashwin, Jofra Archer, Mohammed Arshad Khan, Basil Thampi, Aryan Juyal, Dewald Brevis, Rahul Buddhi, Ramandeep Singh, Sanjay Yadav, Arjun Tendulkar, Hrithik Shokeen, Anmolpreet Singh.

Written by Debashish Sarangi. Follow Debashish on Twitter today