The most successful team in the IPL and the only team to have won the IPL three times is the team of Mumbai. After a poor start in the initial few seasons, Mumbai Indians stormed back into the competition and packed their trophy cabinet with lots of silverware. The winners of 2017 IPL are roaring to take the challenge and reign supreme again.
This year at the auction, Mumbai were as usual cunning. They sought the finest of the T20 players playing currently and managed to kand a few in their squad. They already retained the core of their team and just needed a few players who could cover up the gaps. Their X-factors this season which may surprise the opposition will be Ishan Kishan and Rahul Chahar.
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Ishan Kishan:
Just a few days ago, there was a charity match held at the Wankhede. Many current Indian stars played in the match and there was a lot of fun to be had. Out of the all the stars, the one to dazzle the most was a youngster from Ranchi – Ishan Kishan. Opening the batting with Shikhar Dhawan, Kishan outscored Dhawan by scoring 124* in the chase of 204 runs. This was a 20-overs game and he will be playing for MI at the same venue, so beware.
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The 19-year old wicketkeeper and left-handed opening batsman from Jharkhand, Ishan Kishan captained India at the Under-19 World Cup in 2016 in Bangladesh, where his team finished as runners-up. The knock that fetched him limelight was his 69-ball 87 with 8 sixes against Saurashtra on the turning track of Rajkot in 2015-16. He followed it up with good performances in the first-class arena.
Kishan was first picked up by the Gujarat Lions in IPL 2016. He played five matches for them in the season, scoring 42 runs. He was retained for the 2017 season where he scored 277 runs in 11 matches that he played. This year, opening at the Wankhede, Kishan will have a free license to emulate his heroes – Dhoni and Gilchrist.
Rahul Chahar:
One real worry that Mumbai Indians may have this season is lack of a quality spinner. Their lead spinner this year is an all-rounder Krunal Pandya. The boy who will support him on the spinning tracks is the 18-year-old from Rajasthan, Rahul Chahar.
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The younger brother of the other Rajasthan bowler Deepak Chahar, Rahul bowls leg-spin. He has represented his state up through the youth ranks. The leg-spinner made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut last year when he played for Rising Pune Supergiants. He played three matches for them in the season and took two wickets.
In the recently concluded Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Rahul Chahar snared six wickets with his wily leg spinners. He was also selected in the under-19 Indian squad that toured England in 2017. He will have a massive responsibility of his young shoulders as he is the only leggie Mumbai has.
