Mumbai Indians Will Be Tough To Beat In IPL 2021: Sunil Gavaskar

Former Indian legendary opener Sunil Gavaskar believes that defending champions Mumbai Indians will once again be tough to beat in the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.

Gavaskar made his observations after several Mumbai Indians players came up with brilliant performances in the recently-concluded white-ball series between India and England.

In the five-match T20I series against England, wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav- the two bedrocks of the Mumbai Indians batting-unit last season- made their debut in international cricket and both of them announced their arrival with stunning impactful innings.

While Kishan scored a match-winning 32-ball 56 to help India chase down 165 in the second T20I, Suryakumar Yadav smashed a whirlwind half-century in the 4th game and backed it up with another brilliant cameo in the fifth to help India put up consecutive match-winning totals.

“Mumbai Indians will be hard to beat. We have just seen their players coming to form. Ishan Kishan, Suryakunar Yadav – the way they have batted. Hardik Pandya – the way he has come today,” said Gavaskar.

Apart from Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav, the form of Pandya brothers- Hardik and Krunal- will also please the Mumbai Indians, reckoned Sunil Gavaskar.

While Krunal made a record-breaking half-century on his ODI debut, Hardik’s form with the bat kept getting better and better as the series progressed. More than Hardik’s batting, the fact that he has started bowling consistently is something that augurs well not only for the Mumbai Indians but also for Indian cricket.

“Not just for Mumbai Indians, it was important for Indian cricket to see Pandya bowl 9 overs. That shows that he is ready to play in the Test format as well. It’s [the WTC final] in June, there is still time. But the way he’s come back… that is very very good for Mumbai Indians as well as India cricket,” said Sunil Gavaskar.

The 14th edition of the Indian Premier League will kickstart on April 09 with defending champions Mumbai Indians locking horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore at the M.A Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Also Read: It’s An Honour To Have Kumar Sangakkara Alongside, The Relationship Is Going To Be Really Special – Sanju Samson