IPL 2018: Anil Kumble believes that Mumbai Indians will miss a key player this season
MI did retain the core of their squad but also let go some of the players.
Ahead of the eleventh edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) there was a mega auction and the teams mixed up their lineups. While most have managed to retain the core of their sides, they had to let go some of the experienced campaigners. Among them are players who’ve been loyal to the franchise for all the ten years and were a part of the squad from the inception of the tournament.
Kumble thinks Mumbai Indians will miss him
Former Indian captain Anil Kumble who is part of the expert panel of Star Sports for the season believes that Mumbai will surely miss the services of veteran Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh in the department. Harbhajan has played an important role for the side in the first ten years of the tournament. However, the veteran was picked up by the Chennai Super Kings in the recent auction and will now be playing the season opener against his old franchise at the Wankhede stadium.
Kumble reckons that in Bhajji’s absence spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya will now have to play the role of a lead spinner for the Mumbai franchise this year. Following the latest trend of Twenty20 cricket, MI have also picked up young leggie Rahul Chahar to boost their spin department.
However, the former Indian coach feels that the Mumbai team will certainly find a vacuum as far as Harbhajan’s experience and big-hitting ability lower down the order is concerned.
“Mumbai Indians will certainly miss the experience of Harbhajan Singh as spinner. Krunal Pandya is a really good all-rounder, but he will have to lead the spinners now. They have Rahul (Chahar) as a leg spinner, but again an unknown youngster. the experience of someone like Bhajji (Harbhajan) during those four overs and also what he brings with the bat as well … but having said that they have the other bases covered,” said Kumble during a conversation at the Star Sports Select: The Dugout’ program.
Here is how the Mumbai Indians squad looks like:
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