Former Indian Cricketer Irfan Pathan highlighted the area of concern for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. He feels that while they have a top 6 fits, who be the one who can bat at No.7 for them in the league? He gave them three-and-a-half points for their auction and said that they have a good team but there’s one concern.
“Giving one point less because you will feel one player is missing when you try to make their playing XI,” Irfan Pathan on Mumbai Indians
Mumbai Indians had a horrendous campaign in the IPL 2022 as they ended last on the points table and were the first team to get eliminated from the tournament. However, they would be hoping to turn the tables around and make a staggering comeback and clinch their 6th title.
They had a decent auction as they brought Cameron Green for whopping INR 17.5 crores and it’s fair to say that they have all their bases covered now. Apart from Australian all-rounder, they purchased Jhye Richardson, Piyush Chawla, Dean Jansen, Vishnu Vinod, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, and Raghav Goyal.
With Jofra Archer also set to return for the next season, it’s fair to say that they will be among the favourites to win the tournament. But despite a strong squad, Irfan Pathan rated them three-and-a-half to four points only on a scale of five.
Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2023:
Rohit (C), Bumrah, Surya, Ishan, Green, David, Archer, Brevis, Stubbs, Tilak, Jhyle, Behrendroff, Chawla, Arjun Tendulkar, Ramandeep, Mulani, Wadhera, Kartikeya, Shokeen, Madhwal, Arshad Khan, Raghav Goyal, Duan Jansen, Vishnu Vinod.
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In a discussion on Star Sports, Pathan said that one player is missing when they will make their XI. He said: “Definitely between three-and-a-half to four. Cameron Green was an extremely good buy. I am giving one point less because you will feel one player is missing when you try to make their playing XI,” reasoned Pathan.
“You can also get Cameron Green to open and then Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav – these four are confirmed. Tilak Varma will come at No. 5, and Tim David will come at No. 6 but who will be the seventh player? Which other guy will bat here? It seems they missed out slightly there.”
“Mumbai Indians’ problem might get sorted out because of the impact player,” Irfan Pathan
BCCI recently included impact player and the rule be applicable from IPL 2023. Irfan Pathan feels that although Mumbai Indians don’t have a proper No.7 they can utilise the rule well and play a batter or a bowler according to the situation.
“Mumbai Indians’ problem might get sorted out because of the impact player that is going to come. There you can play an extra bowler at No. 7, or a batter if you have to bowl second. So the overall team is good but I gave the rating based on the best playing XI.”
