3 Teams that can give tough fight to Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021

Mumbai Indians is the most successful franchise in the Indian Premier League. In fact, they have been rated as arguably the best T20 team to have existed since the inception of the format in 2003. With five IPL titles since 2013, Mumbai Indians’ are having a run which no one would have foreseen when they failed to qualify for the knockout stages in the first two seasons of the IPL. 

The 2020 triumph was one of the best for Mumbai, as they looked more than just competitive. They were dominant in their victories and each time they were in trouble, there was some or the other player bailing them out of the situation. Such wasn’t the case before 2020. In addition to this, they seem to have all the attributes of an ideal T20 team along with experience. 

When the Rohit Sharma-led team plays the opening match of 2021 IPL in Chennai on April 09, they will be defending the title for the second successive time. No team in the IPL has won the title three times in a row, which the franchise would be eyeing. Chennai has won consecutive seasons in 2010 and 2011, while Kolkata has won two titles in three years (2012 and 2014).

Here are the 3 teams that can give tough fight to MI in IPL 2021: 

1. Royal Challengers Bangalore

Royal Challengers Bangalore have been banging the doors of a title success ever since they made it to the finals of the second-ever IPL season in 2009. However, the team has never quite been able to win the title, losing the finals in 2009, 2011 and 2016. It has either been a lack of a round-up squad or the over-dependence on star players which has hurt them time and time. 

But, RCB team management put their foot down once again ahead of the IPL 2021 auction, releasing some of their key players, who didn’t have the best of seasons last year. The team had reached the playoffs but the areas with which they struggled last year, seemed to have been solved ahead of the 2021 edition. 

The team has added Glenn Maxwell and Daniel Christian, both of whom are experienced players in the T20 format. Christian in fact is a seasoned championship winner in T20 leagues around the world. With their major issues from last season solved, RCB would be looking to hit the home run this season and finally let their fans say, ‘ey saal naamde.’

2. Delhi Capitals

Delhi Capitals came close to seizing their inaugural title the previous season but had to bow down to a tough Mumbai Indians side in the final. But, this season, the franchise would have gained more experience and would be more than ready to take on the challenge of beating Mumbai Indians to the title race, if the situation comes. 

The franchise has sorted one of the major aspects for any successful IPL team and that is having quality Indian players. Their entire batting mostly consists of good Indian players like Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan. Add to that the experience of Steve Smith, who was added to the team this year, Delhi Capitals’ has arguably the best batting order. 

Apart from that, they have an A-grade bowling unit. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje were just too hot to handle for the batsmen in the 2020 edition and both will be returning for another season. The spin attack has Ravichandran Ashwin and Axar Patel, who is in great form as well. They have all-rounders like Marcus Stoinis and Chris Woakes as well. There is no reason why they can’t edge past Mumbai Indians in the 2021 edition. 

3. Chennai Super Kings

Every season, there is one game that every fan looks forward to and that is the big clash between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. They are the two most successful franchises in the league and when they are up against each other, there are many fans glued to the television screens. 

Last season CSK failed to qualify for the playoffs for the first time. The franchise that has been at the top for several years has prepared well for this year’s edition. This also could be the final season in which we see MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina, so a title win will be a great way to give a farewell to the two legends. 

But, in all logical sense, the franchise has built a great team for the Indian conditions, packing up the team with several quality spinners. The team now has the perfect balance of youth and experience which allows them to look like a team to watch out for in the upcoming season. Interestingly, they had started their campaign last year with a win over Mumbai, but the Rohit Sharma led team was just too good in forthcoming matches.