Mumbai set benchmark in planning

Mumbai Indians’ last two Indian Premier League title victories – in 2017 and 2019 -- have come by just one run. In the case of narrow wins, it’s natural to lay focus on the luck factor. But if you go beyond the surface, you realise how Rohit Sharma’s men have grown into a team that thrives on collective effort.

Mumbai enter every IPL season with the reputation of being the heavyweights and rightly so. The likes of Rohit, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard and Lasith Malinga are the envy of any team. But teams can’t meet expectations by possessing big guns alone. Mumbai, with their four titles and one runner-up finish, have shown that teamwork is the best mantra for success in IPL.

“There is a thin difference between what the captain wants and what he gets from the players,” Rohit had said on the eve of the IPL final on Saturday. Mumbai’s thrilling win against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday proved Rohit right. Apart from responding to the captain’s demands, a combined effort by the players involves each of them understanding their roles perfectly.

Defending 150, the Mumbai bowling did a fine job in executing its plans. The impressive leg-spinner Rahul Chahar sneaked in quiet overs to build scoreboard pressure before Bumrah picked wickets at crucial junctures. To cap it off, Malinga’s rich experience helped him complete the task for his side. The only blip was their fielding, which was impressive until the final.

Even in the batting department, Mumbai didn’t err much in the combination this season. Like their arch-rivals CSK, they believed in continuity over form. This explains Suryakumar Yadav’s extended stay in the team and he repaid their faith with a match-winning knock in the Qualifier 1 on a turner. They didn’t hesitate to make brave calls. Senior batsman Yuvraj Singh had to sit out for the talented Ishan Kishan and in many games, Mumbai were helped by the youngster's cameos.

“I have said this throughout the tournament that we can’t rely on an individual. Collective effort is important,” Rohit said at the post-match press conference. The opener stressed on taking decisions together in crunch situations. “Even decision-making is collective. That’s been the trend in Mumbai Indians. We talk a lot between the overs. Even the last yorker to Shardul (Thakur) was well discussed. I have seen Shardul while playing for Mumbai in domestic cricket. I knew he would attempt a big shot. Malinga and I decided that a slow yorker might get us a wicket,” he explained.

Mumbai have shown that not just hard training on the field but meticulous off-field preparations and calculations play a vital role in a team’s campaign. “We plan and strategise a lot according to the opposition. For example against KKR, Malinga bowled around the wicket for Andre Russell. He generally bowls over the wicket. But the change of plan worked as he got Russell out. We went through Russell’s videos to see what sort of movements he creates when he bats. So we decided to get him out by bowling a bouncer around the wicket,” Rohit pointed out.

Rohit’s game awareness as a skipper and his ability to make brave calls have separated Mumbai from the rest in big games. “Sometimes you have to go with your instincts. Sometimes you have to think and understand what certain players bring to the table. When we won in 2017 by defending 10 runs, Mitchell Johnson bowled the last over. I went to him because he had been in such situations. It’s the same with Malinga. He is one of the finest T20 bowlers in the world. Though he was expensive till then we backed him to bowl the last over,” he said.

For teams vying for their maiden title in the IPL, Mumbai Indians’ great scouting system, their meticulous planning and consistent execution can be an inspiration.