IPL: Mumbai Indians all-time XI

The Mumbai Indians have been the most celebrated team in the history of IPL. The men in blue and gold started the league with a couple of bad seasons in 2008 and 2009.

However, after that, they have not looked back and made it to the playoffs every season barring 2016 and ended up as champions in 3 of them.

Over the years, this team had the privilege of having best players in the business and is always known to be rock-solid on paper.

Let us make an all-time XI out of the several star-studded squads they had over the years.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

The batting maestro was an integral part of the Mumbai Indians in early days of the IPL.

Sachin led Mumbai Indians for the first 4 seasons and won the orange cap in 2010 season.

After retirement, he was appointed as the ‘icon’ of Mumbai Indians and has been with the team since the inception of the league.

No doubt, he is an all-time Mumbai Indians great. Sachin has scored 2599 runs for the Mumbai Indians from 91 games at a strike rate of 119.

#2 Lendl Simmons

The Trinidadian opener joined Mumbai Indians in 2014 as a replacement and turned the fortunes of the team in what was turning out to be a very bad season for them.

He has always been a prolific run-scorer for the Mumbai Indians at the top during Mumbai’s years of glory.

Also, he is one of the four batsmen who has scored a century for the Mumbai Indians. Simmons has scored 1175 runs from 32 matches at a strike rate of 126.

#3 Rohit Sharma (C)

With three IPL titles under his kitty, Rohit Sharma is the most successful captain in the IPL history.

Also, he has been one of the best batsmen in the history of IPL. Since becoming the captain, Rohit has always marshalled his troops brilliantly and is an automatic choice for the captaincy.

His numbers for the MI read 3310 runs from 123 matches at a strike rate of 130.

#4 Ambati Rayudu (WK)

The Hyderabad-born batsman has been a vital cog in the Mumbai Indians line-up for 8 seasons of IPL.

Rayudu’s situational awareness and ability to bail his team out of trouble has proved to be mighty effective for the MI.

Rayudu’s figures for the MI are 2635 runs from 136 matches at a strike rate of 123. Rayudu has been the part of all Mumbai Indians' title-winning teams, in 2013, 2015 as well as in 2017.

#5 Kieron Pollard

The West-Indian all-rounder has a special place in the hearts of the MI Paltan. Arguably, he has been the biggest entertainer for the men in blue and gold smashing towering sixes and playing blitzkrieg knocks.

Also, his presence at the boundary ropes is very assuring for MI fans. Pollard has scored 2846 runs from 145 games striking a 146.

#6 Hardik Pandya

The Baroda all-rounder has been the biggest match-winner for the Mumbai Indians since his entry into the side. Pandya’s striking ability always gives the Mumbai Indians, the impetus towards the end of the innings.

Also, he can play the role of the fifth bowler which makes him an indispensable asset for the Mumbai Indians. In 37 matches, Pandya has scored 406 runs striking at 142 and picked 10 wickets with the ball.

#7 Harbhajan Singh

The veteran off-spinner has been an ace bowler in the Mumbai Indians bowling attack right from the first season of the IPL.

He is known to dismiss the most dangerous batsmen in the opposition team at critical junctures of the game.

Harbhajan’s miserly off-spin has fetched 147 wickets from 158 matches for the Mumbai Indians at 26.55 apiece.

#8 Mitchell McClenaghan

The tall Kiwi fast-bowler has been Rohit Sharma’s go-to man since the 2015 edition of the IPL.

McClenaghan has done everything that has been asked from him, right from taking crucial wickets to keeping the runs down.

A hard trier with a big heart, Mitch has always given his best for the MI. In 40 matches, he has picked up 54 wickets.

#9 Lasith Malinga

The Sri Lankan veteran pacer is arguably the most successful bowler in the history of the IPL. Malinga was the most feared death bowler in the early years of the IPL.

His slinging action coupled with impeccable accuracy made it virtually impossible for batsmen to score off him. He has 179 wickets from 128 matches for the MI.

#10 Jasprit Bumrah

In the recent times, Bumrah has become Mumbai’s most bankable death bowler. Under the watchful eyes of Lasith Malinga, Bumrah mastered the art of bowling yorkers and has taken over the role of death bowler from the Sri Lankan great.

With 46 wickets from 47 matches, he is certainly a worthy inclusion.