IPL 2024: Reasons behind Mumbai Indians' downward spiral this season

IPL 2024: Top four reasons behind Mumbai Indians' downward spiral this season. Mumbai Indians have lost 3 out 3 games so far in the tournament and sitting at the bottom of the table.

Top reasons why Mumbai Indians having a poor start (Images: ©BCCI/IPLT20)

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) are languishing at the bottom of the 10-team table of IPL 2024, having lost all three matches so far. Nothing has gone right for the ‘Men in Blue and Silver’. The Hardik Pandya-led side will be eagerly hoping that things take a turnaround soon and Mumbai Indians get back in business. 

There has been a plethora of things that have gone wrong for the side. Let us decode the areas where Mumbai Indians have failed to capitalise. 

Hardik Pandya’s captaincy

It is said that a captain’s form decides the way a team will go. For Mumbai, their skipper has not been able to strike and lead the team from the front. Hardik Pandya's captaincy in Season 17 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) has drawn significant scrutiny. Since his return to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans (GT), where he enjoyed success as captain, winning the title in 2022 and narrowly missing out in 2023, Pandya has been under the microscope for the past three months.

Tactically, Pandya has faltered. In the initial match, his decision to hold himself back during what seemed like a straightforward run-chase turned disastrous. Despite needing 43 runs in the last five overs with seven wickets in hand, Mumbai Indians suffered a shocking defeat by five runs. 

Pandya's choice to bat at No. 7, behind Dewald Brevis and Tim David, proved to be a misstep. Particularly puzzling was his reluctance to intervene when Tilak Varma was attempting to shield David from Rashid Khan during the crucial chase. His decision to bat at No. 7 was more perplexing than opting to utilize the new ball ahead of Jasprit Bumrah.

Read More: IPL 2024, MI vs RR: Parag carries RR to victory after MI batters falter in first innings

Inability to start the innings well 

The opening partnership of Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan for Mumbai Indians has been rather disappointing thus far. Their dismissals against RR only exacerbate their struggles. It is crucial that they not only start well but also convert their starts of 20s and 30s into substantial innings, ideally reaching scores of 60s or 70s.

Rohit's innings of 43 runs off 29 balls against Gujarat Titans (GT) showed his ability to handle pressure, but the team’s success depends on both of them delivering consistently as openers and giving Mumbai Indians explosive starts. Kishan’s 34-run haul against SRH is commendable, but chasing a total over 270 leaves a lot of room for improvement. 

Both Kishan and Rohit have a history of struggling with match pressure while batting, and it’s important to address this issue. Especially as Mumbai generally face early-season struggles. So, the two opening batters need to sync up their efforts and get over the pressure to put Mumbai Indians on an even keel. If they can convert their starts into big scores and handle match pressure well, they can significantly improve Mumbai Indians’ performance in this tournament.

Read More: IPL 2024, SRH vs MI: SRH top-order produces masterclass; MI persevere but fall behind

Except for Bumrah other bowlers had poor returns in field for Mumbai (Images: ©IPL/X)

Below-par bowling performance 

The Indians are currently facing a void in their bowling department due to Jason Behrendorff's injury withdrawal from the IPL and Jofra Archer's release. This leaves Jasprit Bumrah without a dependable backup option. While South Africa's Gerald Coetzee showed promise in the first match with figures of 2/27, his subsequent performances have been underwhelming. 

Additionally, Kwena Maphaka, though showing improvement with figures of 1/23 against RR, is still relatively new to the scene. It's premature to predict his consistency in upcoming matches, especially considering his previous game where he conceded 66 runs against SRH. Thus, Mumbai Indians are grappling with a lack of reliable bowling alternatives, which could pose challenges in the matches ahead.

Read More: IPL 2024: Meet Naman Dhir - Mumbai Indians' new recruit

Naman Dhir plays at no. 3 and yet to leave an impact for MI (Images: ©IPL/X)

Suryakumar Yadav’s absence 

One of the most significant reasons contributing to Mumbai’s downfall is the absence of Suryakumar Yadav. Surya has been the cornerstone of Mumbai Indians' success in the previous IPL seasons. After analysing Mumbai Indians' batting performance this season, it's evident that the absence of one of their key players, SKY, is being keenly felt under Mark Boucher’s coaching. Suryakumar Yadav, who amassed an impressive 605 runs in the last IPL season, has been sidelined since December of the previous year.

Leading India in a T20I series against South Africa, SKY suffered an ankle injury during the third T20I in Johannesburg. Subsequently, he underwent surgery in January for a sports hernia. While it was anticipated that SKY would miss a few initial matches, his recovery seems to be prolonged.

The impact of SKY's absence was palpable from the first match against Gujarat Titans (GT). Mumbai Indians fell short in their chase of 169 runs, with pressure mounting on players like Tim David and Pandya. SKY's absence deprived the Indians of his trademark calm and composed demeanour, and his presence could have potentially altered the outcome of the match.

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