Mumbai Indians became only the second team to successfully defend the Indian Premier League crown by beating Delhi Capitals in the 2020 final. Rohit Sharma’s men put forward an outstanding performance to see off their rivals by five wickets.
The Indians claimed the title for the fifth time – breaking their own record for most tournament triumphs. They have dominated the IPL for the last two years under the guidance of head coach Mahela Jayawardene and their skipper Sharma.
Mumbai are in a strong position to become the first side to win three IPL crowns on the bounce. They will be the leading contenders among the bookmakers for the 2021 IPL season. There will not be great value on Sharma’s side to emerge with the title given their dominance of the tournament.
As a result, eyeing up the odds and gaining the best value will be key among the leading Indian Premier League bookmakers, where sign-up offers and bonuses are available to increase potential winnings when you back the Indians. The other franchises in the competition will be aiming to close the gap, but Mumbai will be formidable to overcome, especially given the nous and experience.
However, shakeup in the tournament could allow the rest of the pack to close the gap. There are reports that the BCCI are considering adding a ninth team to the competition. The move could result in a mega auction where every single player is made available, although teams may be allowed to protect key figures in their line-ups. Mumbai would certainly aim to lock down Sharma along with seamer Jasprit Bumrah. Sharma was outstanding in the final, while Bumrah was sensational throughout the tournament. The other players that have played vital roles in their recent victories could be on offer in the auction, which may leave their quest for three-straight titles in doubt.
Trent Boult was a brilliant foil to Bumrah at the top of the innings. The New Zealander claimed 25 wickets in the competition, finishing third in the Purple Cap standings behind only Kagiso Rabada and Bumrah. Boult claimed off his wickets in the 2020 final, including the first-ball dismissal of Marcus Stoinis. He mitigated the loss of Lasith Malinga perfectly and he’s not a player that the Indians can afford to lose alongside Bumrah. James Pattinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile were solid but did not provide the quality of the 31-year-old. It may behoove the Indians to use one of their protected slots or one of their two RTM (right-to-match) options to ensure that Boult goes nowhere.
Ishan Kishan was one of the surprise stories for the Indians in their run to the crown, enjoying a breakout season for the champions. The 22-year-old displayed maturity beyond his years as well as performances of the highest quality with the bat. Only Lokesh Rahul, David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan Shreyas Iyer scored more runs that Kishan last season as he led the way for Mumbai with the bat. He should be considered the future of the franchise given that Sharma is 33. The Indians should have one eye on a succession plan as well as their short-term success. Locking up Kishan should certainly be top of their agenda.
There are only a few slots on the side that are guaranteed for 2021 in the Indians’ line-up. Quinton de Kock was a vital player in their success for the last two seasons. He often provided electric starts at the top of the order alongside Sharma and would be a miss for the Indians with both bat and gloves behind the stumps. Hardik Pandya has been with Mumbai since 2015 and was named in the team of the season in 2019. He was not quite at that standard in 2020, but he still played some vital knocks for his team. At the age of 27, he could chase a lucrative contract and perhaps a leadership role elsewhere. The same could be said for Suryakumar Yadav, who was also excellent, and he could be line for another top deal as he secured when he signed for the Indians in 2018.
There are a lot of decisions to be made in the future of the IPL and the Indians. A dynasty is in reach for Mumbai, but they have to nail the off-season to ensure that it becomes a reality.