Will Hardik Pandya lead Mumbai Indians course-correct their shortcomings in this edition of IPL?

Mumbai would be looking to change gears and re-discover its wonted form and be a formidable force when the 2025 season commences on March 23

HYDERABAD: A change of guard with Hardik Pandya leading the five-time champions, Mumbai Indians, turned out to be a dismal show as the champion outfit could win only four of the 14 matches in the league phase to finish 10th in the points table in the last IPL season.

So, by all means, Mumbai should be looking to change gears and re-discover its wonted form and be a formidable force when the 2025 season commences on March 23.

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But the biggest concern is the non-availability of its spearhead and arguably the world’s best fast bowler, the 31-year-old Jasprit Bumrah. He is expected to miss the early round matches to the dismay of the Mumbai camp.

Bumrah’s absence means the workload and the expectations will be very high on left-arm pacer Trend Boult and India star Deepak Chahar in fast bowling with captain Hardik expected to take chip in with the crucial breakthroughs even while ensuring there is a check on runs-flow.

With the likes of Rohit Sharma, arguably the best batter in the white-ball format and high on confidence after leading India to the ICC Champions Trophy in Dubai recently, Surya Kumar Yadav, who has the reputation of playing strokes 360 Degrees and the Hyderabadi Tilak Varma already making waves on the international circuit, it would be an understatement to state that Mumbai hopes to see this big guns fire on all cylinders if it were to be a force to reckon with.

The presence of England allrounder Will Jacks, South African wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickleton, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult, and left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, who led New Zealand to the Champions Trophy final recently, does ensure the needed variety and depth to the squad.

The Mumbai camp did suffer two big blows even before the season started with two overseas players Allah Ghazanfar and Lizaad Williams ruled out, forcing it to look to Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Corbin Bosch as replacements.

Clearly, Mumbai’s fortunes hinge on the form and brilliance of Rohit as he has to lead from the front at the top of the order if the team were to take the fight into the rival camp on any given day and in any given condition.