It’s barely been a few months since the 2020 edition of the Indian Premier League finished but we are still recovering from its hangover. The good news is that the 14th edition of the IPL is already upon us and will commence soon. This news piece will be music to many users as it means more cricket on the new fantasy cricket app.
The 13th edition of the IPL was played behind closed doors in the UAE due to COVID19 and although the fans did not get a chance to flock the stadiums, the engagement remained at an all-time high. In a season that ebbed and flowed all through, Mumbai Indians were crowned champions second time running and an unprecedented fifth time in history.
IPL 2021 will, in all likelihood, be held in India, and Mumbai are once again firm favourites going into the tournament.
But what is Mumbai doing right that they are winning trophy after trophy? Here are the player ratings for the top MI batsmen from the season gone by. These batsmen will also be forming the crux of Mumbai’s batting unit in the upcoming edition. Watch out for these 5 batsmen that make Mumbai Indians invincible
1) Ishan Kishan 9.5/10
The highest run-scorer for Mumbai in the season gone by, Ishan Kishan started his season in fifth gear and never slowed down at any stage. He did not play MI’s first two matches and only an injury to Saurabh Tiwary got him into the side, and boy did Kishan grab his chances with both hands. He was the highest run-scorer for his side despite playing two games less, had the best average amongst all Mumbai batsmen and struck most sixes in the entire competition. In 14 matches, Kishan smashed 516 runs averaging an impeccable 57.33, which included four half-centuries. What stood out this season was his consistency. Kishan has time and again been guilty of throwing his wicket after being set but this time around, he was amazingly consistent, scoring 30 or more in 8 of his 13 innings. In turn, he was also a fantasy cricket player’s delight, almost guaranteeing you points in every game. This is why Kishan gets a high 9.5/10 in our player ratings.
2) Suryakumar Yadav 9/10
He might not have yet gotten a call-up to the national side, but there is little denying that Suryakumar Yadav is one of the best T20 batsmen going around in the modern game. His sheer consistency in what is the most volatile format of the game is commendable, and he was yet again at it in IPL 13. In 15 innings, Yadav amassed 480 runs averaging a strong 40 with four half-centuries to his name. The ease with which he handled pressure in crucial moments was what stood out. Mumbai’s batting unit’s fulcrum, Yadav time and again rescued his side from precarious positions, his unbeaten 79 against Royal Challengers Bangalore being a prime example. Yadav has been a critical component for Mumbai for a few years now, and he is one batsman who will once again be looking to stamp his authority come IPL 14. Consistency is one thing that fantasy cricket players often search for, and Yadav scores big on that count.
3) Hardik Pandya 8.5/10
Hardik Pandya might not be bowling these days as he recovers from a back injury but in IPL 2020, he redefined himself as a batsman. Coming lower down the order, Pandya looked set from the outset and the way he struck the ball was a sight to behold. Pandya faced just 157 balls in the entire IPL 2020 but still managed to sneak into the top five run-getters list for Mumbai. In 13 innings, Pandya smoked 281 runs averaging 35.13 but the highlight here is his strike-rate that reads 179! Pandya of old often took the spinners on but this time around, he was equally proficient against pace as well. Hanging deep in the crease, Pandya brought the long levers out and struck big. He is expected to resume bowling at some stage and if he can contribute in that aspect too in the upcoming IPL edition, Pandya almost becomes indispensable.
3) Kieron Pollard 8.5/10
Like fine wine, Kieron Pollard seems to be getting better with age and he was once again in his elements in IPL 2020. The thing with Pollard is that teams often underestimate how good a reader of the T20 game the Trinidadian is. He assesses the situation astutely, knows when to go for his shots and once Pollard decides to clear the ropes 99 out 100 times, he will succeed. This was on display time and again in the recently-concluded IPL season. Pollard struck 268 runs in 12 innings that he played, averaging 53.6. It is his strike-rate though that defied all odds. Pollard struck at 191.4 in the entire tournament, which was the highest among all batsmen. In fantasy cricket, the fours and sixes also fetch you points and Pollard is one player who can certainly help you in that regard.
5) Quinton de Kock 8/10
Lastly, Quinton de Kock makes it to our list of batsmen that make Mumbai invincible. De Kock has been a proven performer in the T20 circuit world over, and this time around with MI he once again flexed his muscle. Tasked with getting his side off to quick starts, de Kock made sure he achieved it as his strike rate of 140.5 suggests. De Kock finished IPL 2020 as the second-highest run-scorer for Mumbai with 503 runs in 16 matches averaging 35.93. There were question marks whether de Kock would be able to adapt to the slow nature of the UAE surfaces but he quashed any such doubts with consistent scores. With the 14th edition of IPL set to be held in India, de Kock will be a key arrow in the MI quiver. The fact that he gives crucial points behind the stumps as well makes de Kock a valuable player from a fantasy point of view as well.
