Malinga, Bumrah and Harbhajan Singh. (Photo Source: Twitter/MumbaiIndians)
The most successful franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians have bagged five trophies in 15 editions of the tournament. In 2013, they lifted the cup for the first time under captain Rohit Sharma after beating Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the iconic Eden Gardens. In 2020, they won their last title after vanquishing Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Dubai International Stadium, having amassed three more in between.
However, their performance graph has slumped recently as they couldn’t qualify for the knockouts in the last couple of seasons. Last year, they delivered their worst performance of all time in the league. Claiming only four victories in 14 matches, they ended up at the bottom of the points table.
This year, Rohit Sharma and his men will look to bring joy to the faces of the supporters by clinching yet another title. Although the bygone year saw Mumbai Indians struggle with their bowling, the team has traditionally been known for its impeccable bowling attack that has won them not only matches but even tournaments. As we move closer to Mumbai’s first match of the 2023 IPL, let’s look back at five of Mumbai’s most deadly bowlers who have wreaked havoc in the blues.
Here are the five greatest MI bowlers of all time:
5. Trent Boult
Trent Boult. (Photo by Philip Brown)
In November 2019, Delhi Capitals (DC) traded fast bowler Trent Boult to Mumbai Indians. With the Kiwi pacer’s addition to the squad, MI emerged as one of the greatest bowling powerhouses in the 2020 edition of the tournament. Boult played a key role with his bowling in their successful campaign as the star player fetched 25 wickets in 15 matches at an economy of 7.97. He thus ended up in the third position on the list of highest-wicket-takers in the tournament.
He also formed a bowling pair with Jasprit Bumrah that became too hot to handle for the rivals. The bowling duo took 52 wickets together in 15 games and helped the team grab the title for the record fifth time.
In 2021, MI couldn’t qualify for the knockouts but Boult delivered decent bowling figures for his team, taking 13 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 7.90. After serving MI for a couple of seasons, Boult became a part of the 2008 IPL champions Rajasthan Royals (RR). During his two-year stint for the five-time IPL champions, the New Zealander hunted 38 batters in 29 matches at an economy of 7.94.
4. Mitchell McClenaghan
Mumbai Indians. (Photo Source: BCCI)
Mitchell McClenaghan could be included among the most underrated players in the history of the league. The New Zealand speedster bagged numerous games for MI in his four-year association with the franchise. In his team’s second title triumph in 2015, he supported Mumbai’s bowling spearhead Lasith Malinga with 18 scalps in 12 contests at an economy of 8.21.
Emboldened by his previous bowling display, the pacer again impressed in 2016. This time, he grabbed 17 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 8.17 and ended up as the leading wicket-taker for his team in the season. However, despite his superb bowling shows, his team’s campaign couldn’t advance beyond the league round.
Rohit Sharma and his men claimed another IPL trophy in the 2017 installment with their close one-run victory over Steve Smith-led Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) in the final. Throughout the competition, McClenaghan again looked consistent and came out as one of the strike bowlers for Mumbai. The MI speedster chipped in with 19 wickets in 14 games at an economy of 9.38 as he contributed to his team’s fabulous title win. Currently, he is the fourth-highest wicket-taker of all time for MI with 71 wickets in 56 matches at an economy of 8.49.
3. Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Former India player Harbhajan Singh played a lot of cricket in the IPL, the bulk of which had come in Mumbai Indians’ colours. In 2008, he started his journey in the team as one of the key players alongside Sachin Tendulkar, Shaun Pollock, Sanath Jayasuriya and Dwayne Bravo.
Representing MI from 2008-2017, he achieved a lot of feats with the ball. In his nine-year stint with the franchise, the spin wizard grabbed 147 wickets in 158 matches at an economy of 6.96. With these majestic figures, he is also the third-most successful bowler for Mumbai.
In January 2013, he relinquished MI captaincy to focus on his bowling. He made sure to make this decision count as the spin legend trapped 24 batters in 19 matches at an economy of 6.51, and helped his side to clinch its maiden trophy. The dashing bowler also played a huge part in Mumbai’s success in 2015. In the second-title win of his team, the Turbanator took 18 wickets in 15 games at an economy of 7.82.
Also check: Indian Premier League (IPL) all records and stats
2. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Jasprit Bumrah broke into the IPL scene in 2013 after getting picked in the MI squad for their sixth league season. In the first three editions (2013-2015), he got a few matches but the young Bumrah couldn’t provide anything solid to the team during his learning phase. However, his team remained patient and waited for him to become a mature bowler under the guidance of Sri Lanka legend and MI stalwart Lasith Malinga.
In 2016, he finally had a phoenix rise and emerged as a strike bowler for Mumbai. With 15 scalps in 14 games at an economy of 7.80, he became the second-leading wicket-taker for his team in the season. Encouraged by his previous year’s performance, the Ahmedabad-born speedster wreaked havoc on batters in the 2017 installment of the competition as well. In that year, the pacer took 20 wickets in 16 matches of the competition and help his team bag the title for a record third time.
Similarly, in the 2020 title victory, he claimed 27 wickets and came out as the most efficient bowler of the season for MI. Currently, he is an integral part of Mumbai as the veteran spearheads the fast-bowling unit after the retirement of Lasith Malinga in 2021. He has, however, been ruled out of the 2023 season on medical grounds, thus leaving Mumbai with an unfillable void.
1. Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Similar to his exploits in international cricket, former Sri Lanka star bowler Lasith Malinga is a huge name in the cash-rich IPL as well. Currently, the fabled speedster is providing services to the 2008 IPL champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) as a bowling coach. Back in 2009, he joined MI and showcased his potential by sending 18 batters back to the pavilion in his 13 appearances in the season.
MI played great cricket in 2011, courtesy of some quality performances from their senior players. Malinga, who was one of the headlining names in the squad, took 28 wickets in 16 matches of the edition and became the Purple Cap winner. The stylish pacer gave his best to reinforce the team’s pace battery during MI’s four title triumphs from 2013 to 2019.
In 2021, he quit all forms of cricket which brought down the curtains on his glorifying IPL career as well. The bowling maestro fetched 195 wickets in 139 contests at an economy of 7.12 during his 10-year stint with MI. With these sensational bowling figures, he is also ruling MI’s chart of bowlers, having claimed the most wickets for the team in IPL.
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