It has been a difficult ride for Mumbai Indians in their opening game. At IPL 2021, too, the five-time champions failed to win their first encounter. They lost to RCB in the season opener that was held in Chennai. With this, the franchise has an infamous record behind them. MI last won an opening match in 2012.
It was the season opener in IPL 2012, and Mumbai Indians were taking on Chennai Super Kings. Batting first, CSK were bundled out for just 112 runs. It was an easy chase for the men from Mumbai. However, since then, it has been a sorry first game for them.
Openers: Richard Levi and Sachin Tendulkar
MI last won an opening match back in 2012, and they had a slightly different looking team then. South African cricketer Richard Levi was one of the openers. The other name was Sachin Tendulkar. In that particular encounter, while Levi got a fifty, Sachin was retired out after he had contributed 16 runs to the team’s cause.
Middle-Order: Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik (WK)
Rohit Sharma was part of the XI that won the game in Chennai. However, he was not the captain of the squad. Nevertheless, at No.3, he was batting at an important position for his franchise.
The other two members of the batting line-up were Ambati Rayudu and Dinesh Karthik, both of whom have served MI very well while they were at the peak of their careers. Both the cricketers have achieved IPL success in the Mumbai Indians jersey. Dinesh Karthik did not get an opportunity to bat that game while Rayudu closed the encounter with a fine cameo.
All-Rounders: James Franklin and Kieron Pollard
When MI last won an opening match in IPL, they had the Kiwi-West Indian all-rounders’ combination of James Franklin and Kieron Pollard. While Franklin did well in a few games for MI, Pollard is still a crucial part of the team. The Kiwi bowled two overs that game and scored 25 runs under pressure. Pollard had to complete his four-over quota, which he did quite well with a two-wicket haul.
Bowlers: Harbhajan Singh (C), Lasith Malinga, Pragyan Ojha and Abu Nechim
If you compare the present bowling line-up and the one that last won an opening game, you would find a lot of difference. Nevertheless, this attack had strengths of its own. They had a better spin attack with Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha leading the way. While Lasith Malinga was at the centre of the pace attack, Abu Nechim supported the Sri Lankan with some fine spells.
