IPL 2017: Squad strengths, weakness and prediction

Mumbai Indians

Mitchell Johnson is back with the Mumbai Indians for IPL 2017

The two-time IPL and CL T20 champions are one of the most successful teams in IPL history. So it was a surprise when MI failed to make it to the last four in 2016. In the 2017 auctions, they made unsuccessful bids for Ben Stokes, Trent Boult, Tymal Mills and Rashid Khan but were successful in buying the exciting Sri Lankan batsman, Asela Gunaratne, and retired Australian quick, Mitchell Johnson.

Strengths: Mumbai Indians made a smart buy in Mitchell Johnson to add to their impressive pace bowling arsenal which is led by Lasith Malinga and Jasprith Bumrah. Spinners like Harbhajan Singh, Karn Sharma and Krunal Pandya add variety to their bowling.

Weakness: Rohit Sharma, who is coming back from an injury, will need support from Ambati Rayudu and Parthiv Patel at the top to set a platform for the explosive middle order batsmen like Jos Buttler, Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers to tee off. Therein lies an opportunity to exploit, for MI’s opponents. If the top order fails, they don’t have a stable middle order to rebuild the innings.

Prediction: They should make it to the last 4.