IPL 2021: 3 MI Players who might be benched for most of the season

The Mumbai Indians (MI) had a stellar IPL season last year. After a competitive season, they managed to clinch the trophy for the fifth time in eight years. The credit for this success goes to the team management who have nurtured the players. Apart from that, they have ensured that the core team has enough exposure. 

MI, as a team, is so strong that even their bench is qualified enough to form another lineup. Their playing eleven is so strong that even Chris Lynn failed to get a chance last season. Talk about their bowling attack, they have some big names like Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. Well, this team is the strongest ever. 

The strength of this MI lineup implies that talented players will have to wait for their chance. Therefore, if MI manage to qualify for the playoffs early on, then only the bench will be able to take the field. Or else, an unfortunate injury to the regular members of the playing eleven might open the doors for them.

Here are three MI players who are most likely to warm the benches for most of the IPL 2021 season:

1. Arjun Tendulkar

The Mumbai team management went on to pick Arjun Tendulkar during the 2021 auction. Well, most of the fans had stated that they picked him because he is Sachin’s son. But, as per the management, they have picked him because of his skills. This edition will mark Arjun’s debut if the management decides to give Bumrah a breather. 

Arjun has been a net bowler for Mumbai Indians since 2019. Adding on, he has bowled in the nets for the national team too. Therefore, he has been watched closely by the selectors. Arjun made his senior cricket debut for Mumbai during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. During that tournament, he picked up two wickets only. 

Adding on, he had a poor economy rate of 9.57. This might not work in favour of him as many veterans in the squad will be warming the benches. He is indeed the future for MI. But, the chances of Arjun making it to the playing eleven regularly is quite low.

2. Aditya Tare

Aditya Tare will be forever remembered because of that one ball off James Faulkner. He had whipped the ball off his legs to send the leather into square leg’s stand at the Wankhede. The six meant that MI sneaked into the playoffs. Thanks to Corey Anderson and Tare, MI managed to jump over RR on the points table according to the net run rate rule. But, since then, Tare has been unable to establish himself as a regular member of the squad. 

It is not only about MI, but Tare has failed to cement a spot in any side he has been a part of. However, he was in the MI squad till 2015 and won two trophies with the franchise. Later on, in 2016, he was picked by SRH, but he failed. The same story was repeated when Tare was picked by Delhi Daredevils, and later on, he returned to the MI squad.

With an experience of 35 IPL matches, Tare has scored only 339 runs. A mediocre average of 14.12 does not help him to cement a spot in an already strong team like MI. Tare has only one fifty to his name and with Quinton de Kock keeping wickets, he is less likely to be included in the eleven. Also, his strike rate is 124.18, which is mediocre for a middle/lower-order batsman. 

3. Dhawal Kulkarni

Dhawal Kulkarni is a swing bowler who can pick up wickets during the powerplay. Although pace is not his X-factor, Kulkarni can trouble the batsman with his accuracy and swing. During his initial years, he was a part of the Mumbai Indians and Rajasthan Royals. He was so effective in the domestic circuit that he made it to the Indian squad. 

Over the years, the medium-pacer has never managed to feature in the playing eleven regularly. This is mainly because he had to make way for spinners in dry pitches. Adding on, he is not a great death bowler. And the presence of Bumrah and Boult makes it more difficult for Kulkarni to make it to the playing eleven.

The MI management can ensure that he gets some games if MI makes it to the playoffs comfortably. In 91 IPL games, he has picked up 86 wickets. With a mediocre economy rate of 8.26, he might not get chances upfront in the tournament. But if it comes to picking up an alternative, Kulkarni is the premier option to Bumrah in the MI squad.