The Mumbai Indians haven’t done so well in the past few seasons of the Indian Premier League (IPL). They were really good in IPL 2020, being at the top of the table and winning the championship. But in IPL 2021, they didn’t even make it to the playoffs. Their worst performance was in IPL 2022, where they finished at the bottom with just 4 wins out of 14 games.
They did a bit better in IPL 2023, making it to the playoffs and even the second qualifier match. In IPL 2024, Hardik Pandya will be leading Mumbai Indians as their captain because Rohit Sharma, who led them to five IPL victories, was replaced by the management for certain reasons. In the IPL 2024 auction, Mumbai Indians bought several bowlers to strengthen their team, especially in the bowling department, which was weak in the last two seasons.
Now, let’s talk about the three most impressive bowlers to watch out for in IPL 2024 for Mumbai Indians:
1. Akash Madhwal:
Akash Madhwal was a real savior for Mumbai Indians and Rohit Sharma in IPL 2023. They were missing both Jofra Archer and Jasprit Bumrah, which weakened their fast bowling unit. Madhwal, originally from Dehradun and used to playing tennis-ball cricket, stepped in and did a fantastic job. He took 14 wickets in 8 matches in IPL 2023, with his best performance being 5/5, helping Mumbai Indians reach the playoffs.
2. Gerald Coetzee:
Gerald Coetzee, the South African player, was a great bargain for Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2024 auction. He bowls really fast, around 145 kilometers per hour, and also bats well when needed, all for a reasonable price. Coetzee is known for his pace, variations, and ability to make the ball bounce unpredictably, making him a valuable asset for Mumbai Indians. He’s excited to bowl alongside Jasprit Bumrah, which will be tough for their opponents to handle.
3. Jasprit Bumrah:
Jasprit Bumrah couldn’t play in IPL 2023 because he was recovering from back surgery. However, he made a strong comeback for the Indian team later that year, playing in the Asia Cup 2023 and the ICC World Cup 2023. Bumrah has been a key player for Mumbai Indians, taking 145 wickets in 120 matches with a best of 5/10. His return to the team will help the new captain, Hardik Pandya, build a strong pace attack around him. With the T20 World Cup 2024 approaching, Bumrah’s experience will be crucial, especially since he last played in the T20 format against Ireland.