Mumbai Indians (MI) IPL 2023 Team SWOT Analysis: Archer in, Bumrah out as MI look for turnaround

Mumbai Indians will be hoping that Jofra Archer hits top form in absence of an injured Jasprit Bumrah as record five-time champions aim to turn things around after a horrendous last season. Mumbai Indians endured an inexplicably poor IPL 2022, finishing last with just four wins and 10 losses in 14 games.

Indeed, it was worst performance by Mumbai Indians who finished last — for first time ever across all 15 editions.

Mumbai’s poor show coincided with ir captain’s worst season as well. Never before in history of IPL had Rohit Sharma finished a season without a fifty, and in IPL 2022, MI’s run-machine at top recorded his lowest numbers since competition began: a mere 268 runs at a forgettable aver of 19.14.

masterful Bumrah, who saved some blushes with ball for Mumbai Indians with 15 wickets in 14 outings, will miss IPL 2023 after undergoing a back surgery.

Bumrah's absence, despite availability of menacing Jofra Archer, cant be filled. Additionally, MI will also be without Australian pacer Jhye Richardson who has had a hamstring surgery and miss entire IPL since he is out of action for a few months.

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Mumbai were without any frontline spinner last season and void was certainly felt, which could again be a concern given that most ticeable name in roster for this year is of veteran spinner Piyush Chawla, who last played an IPL game two years ago for Chennai Super Kings.

IPL 2023: MI Team Strengths

world 1 T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav will aim to bounce back strongly after a poor ODI series against Australia, and he is also most dependable name in MI middle-order consisting India’s Tilak Varma and South Africans Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs.

While Sharma will be expected to fire on all cylinders at top with explosive Ishan Kishan in tow, Tim David will be expected to go ballistic in lower order. At auction, Mumbai Indians spent Rs 17.50 crore out of ir Rs 20.55 crore purse on Cameron Green, with Australian being considered as a like-for-like replacement for Kieron Pollard, who has taken up role of batting coach.

MI will hope availability of Archer should control some extent of dam caused by Bumrah’s absence and Jason Behrendorff should bring in more variations with his left-arm pace, who had a successful stint in Big Bash League taking 21 wickets in 14 matches for title winners Perth Scorchers.

IPL 2023: MI Team Weaknesses

MI captain Sharma has been among runs but t with magnitude he is kwn for, and given that team is still rebuilding its squad and finding best combinations on field post mega auction, it will be a fresh challenge for a largely young batting unit.

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While Bumrah’s absence cant be fulfilled, Mumbai are at least in clear. team can make plans with pace bowling options available but challenge of t having a dependable spinner could prove too much.

young Kumar Kartikeya did leave an impression in four matches he played last year, but Mumbai’s dependability could entirely fall upon fast bowlers and all-rounders like Green to share workload throughout season.

IPL 2023: MI Team Opportunities

With fresh season ahead, Mumbai Indians will be keen to make most of getting a full run at ir home ground Wankhede Stadium, where y played a mere four matches last year and yet lost two.

Sharma and co have plenty of young players across departments which indicate MI have kept an eye on future while rebuilding ir squad. young talent in Brevis, Varma, Stubbs, David and even Green will have a lot to prove and y will be keen to make a head start.

Mumbai captain Sharma can also take a high-pressure competition in IPL to sharpen his leadership skills in front of packed stadiums to prepare for bigger challenge later this year, when he will lead national side in 50-over World Cup in India.

IPL 2023: MI Team Threats 

Suryakumar could be raging bull Mumbai Indians would be waiting to unleash. batter has made an incredible mark in international T20s and he would be keen to shrug off failures that have come his way recently.

Sharma and Kishan form a dangerous pair at top and y will want to make a strong start right from game one, an away fixture against Royal Challengers Bangalore on April 2. right-handed David can be destructive if MI need acceleration so can Brevis in middle order.