Reliance Industries' Mukesh Ambani-owned Mumbai Indians can now be called 'dream team' not just because it has Sachin Tendulkar in it. Besides Tendulkar, this bunch has a couple of cricketers, who, by combining together, will be a marketing man's dream come true.
Just imagining Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds walk out on the field together to play for the same team gives one goose pimples!
It is the ultimate cricketing fantasy coming true. Two cricketers, who were embroiled in 'Monkeygate' - one of the biggest feuds to have gripped the sport three years back - will now turn out in the same colours!
While both bring a tremendous amount of skills on the table with their explosive all-round abilities, it is the chemistry, or maybe the lack of it, between them, that will gather maximum eyeballs, which of course, will be focused on cricket's most famous World Cup winner Tendulkar too.
Add the explosive Kieron Pollard, 'slinger par excellence' Lasith Malinga and the precociously talented Rohit Sharma to the mix, and you have a 'Super Six' who can be called the USP of Mumbai Indians this season. Every other team in the IPL would envy and fear the kind of ammunition MI have up their sleeve. These six big guns, if they fire as well as they can, will be enough to blow away any opposition to smithereens.
Tendulkar, of course, would be keen now to add the IPL crown as the cherry on his 'World Cup cake'. The maestro batted brilliantly to steer his team into the final last season, and would look to go one better this time.
Coach Robin Singh will be relived by the fact that the support cast looks good too. Ambati Rayudu, R Satish and new signing T Suman performed well last season, and South African wicket-keeper batsman David Jacobs, who impressed with his big-hitting during the Champions League in South Africa, will be a useful value addition.
Munaf Patel, who seems to be bowling as well as he has ever done in his life, should provide Malinga good support in the pace department. The stress this time seems to have been on all-rounders, which explains the purchases of James Franklin and Moises Henriques.
The youth wing of the side looks in good shape too, with seamers Dhawal Kulkarni, Abu Nechim and Mumbai U-19 batsman Suryakumar Yadav promising much for the future. So, will Tendulkar be smiling again on the night of May 28? It's time his IPL dream comes true too. On sheer talent, this team deserves the title. Perhaps the Master Blaster would be fourth-time lucky.
Watch out, opposition
Captain: After winning the World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar will be keen to add the only trophy missing from his glorious cabinet.
Coach and support staff: Robin Singh was coach of Deccan Chargers in Season I, but the team finished bottom of the table. In Season III, he joined Mumbai Indians and took them all the way to the final.
Key players
Andrew Symonds: He is not a part of the Aussie set-up anymore, but he possesses game-changing talent both with bat and ball. His fielding is brilliant too. His big-hitting will add to MI's power in the middle.
Kieron Pollard: No batsman hits the ball harder and longer in the game today and he showed that in the league game against Delhi Daredevils in Mumbai and the semis against Royal Challengers. MI will be banking on the big Trinidadian to do the business again.
Lasith Malinga: Was treated as one of their own by the Mumbai crowd and was cheered lustily even though he dismissed Tendulkar in the World Cup final.
Squad: Sachin Tendulkar (C), Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Rohit Sharma, Abu Nechim, Aditya Tare, Ali Murtaza, Ambati Rayudu, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pawan Suyal, R Satish, SK Yadav, Sarul Kanwar, T Suman, Yuzvendra Chahal, Aiden Blizzard, Andrew Symonds, David Jacobs, Dilhara Fernando, James Franklin, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Moises Henriques.
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Just imagining Harbhajan Singh and Andrew Symonds walk out on the field together to play for the same team gives one goose pimples!
It is the ultimate cricketing fantasy coming true. Two cricketers, who were embroiled in 'Monkeygate' - one of the biggest feuds to have gripped the sport three years back - will now turn out in the same colours!
While both bring a tremendous amount of skills on the table with their explosive all-round abilities, it is the chemistry, or maybe the lack of it, between them, that will gather maximum eyeballs, which of course, will be focused on cricket's most famous World Cup winner Tendulkar too.
Add the explosive Kieron Pollard, 'slinger par excellence' Lasith Malinga and the precociously talented Rohit Sharma to the mix, and you have a 'Super Six' who can be called the USP of Mumbai Indians this season. Every other team in the IPL would envy and fear the kind of ammunition MI have up their sleeve. These six big guns, if they fire as well as they can, will be enough to blow away any opposition to smithereens.
Tendulkar, of course, would be keen now to add the IPL crown as the cherry on his 'World Cup cake'. The maestro batted brilliantly to steer his team into the final last season, and would look to go one better this time.
Coach Robin Singh will be relived by the fact that the support cast looks good too. Ambati Rayudu, R Satish and new signing T Suman performed well last season, and South African wicket-keeper batsman David Jacobs, who impressed with his big-hitting during the Champions League in South Africa, will be a useful value addition.
Munaf Patel, who seems to be bowling as well as he has ever done in his life, should provide Malinga good support in the pace department. The stress this time seems to have been on all-rounders, which explains the purchases of James Franklin and Moises Henriques.
The youth wing of the side looks in good shape too, with seamers Dhawal Kulkarni, Abu Nechim and Mumbai U-19 batsman Suryakumar Yadav promising much for the future. So, will Tendulkar be smiling again on the night of May 28? It's time his IPL dream comes true too. On sheer talent, this team deserves the title. Perhaps the Master Blaster would be fourth-time lucky.
Watch out, opposition
Captain: After winning the World Cup, Sachin Tendulkar will be keen to add the only trophy missing from his glorious cabinet.
Coach and support staff: Robin Singh was coach of Deccan Chargers in Season I, but the team finished bottom of the table. In Season III, he joined Mumbai Indians and took them all the way to the final.
Key players
Andrew Symonds: He is not a part of the Aussie set-up anymore, but he possesses game-changing talent both with bat and ball. His fielding is brilliant too. His big-hitting will add to MI's power in the middle.
Kieron Pollard: No batsman hits the ball harder and longer in the game today and he showed that in the league game against Delhi Daredevils in Mumbai and the semis against Royal Challengers. MI will be banking on the big Trinidadian to do the business again.
Lasith Malinga: Was treated as one of their own by the Mumbai crowd and was cheered lustily even though he dismissed Tendulkar in the World Cup final.
Squad: Sachin Tendulkar (C), Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Rohit Sharma, Abu Nechim, Aditya Tare, Ali Murtaza, Ambati Rayudu, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pawan Suyal, R Satish, SK Yadav, Sarul Kanwar, T Suman, Yuzvendra Chahal, Aiden Blizzard, Andrew Symonds, David Jacobs, Dilhara Fernando, James Franklin, Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga, Moises Henriques.
toi
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