Former India keeper-batsman, Parthiv Patel opines that Mumbai Indians’ trait of always looking to get better despite winning the IPL trophy multiple times makes them the most successful IPL team.
Parthiv Patel, who was recently roped in by the 5-time champions as a Talent Scout, cites the example of MI signing veteran leg-spinner Piyush Chawla at the IPL 2021 auction for Rs. 2.4 crore, after he was released by the Chennai Super Kings.
Despite MI winning back-t0-back titles, they seemed thin on experience when it came to their spin bowling department with their first two spinners being Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya, and Jayant Yadav as the third spinner – hence they have roped in Piyush Chawla.
“I don’t think it is a disadvantage for Mumbai Indians, because, if you look at the Mumbai Indians squad last year, there was only one thing which everyone could notice – they didn’t have an experienced spinner. They have Krunal Pandya and Rahul Chahar, but they needed someone experienced, and that’s what Mumbai Indians did in this auction. They got Piyush Chawla, a very experienced campaigner in IPL,” Parthiv Patel said on Star Sports’ show Cricket Connected.
Chawla knows how to bowl on slow and low wickets: Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel, who played for the Rohit Sharma-led side from 2015 to 2017 winning two seasons, asserts that Chawla with all his experience on Indian surfaces, especially on slow and turning tracks, will be a useful spinner in their bowling attack.
Mumbai plays their first 5 games in Chennai and the next 4 in Delhi – both surfaces are known to assist spinners, making the former Kolkata Knight Riders leg-spinner a crucial addition in quest of their sixth – and a hat-trick – of IPL titles.
“He knows how to bowl on Chennai wicket or on slow and low wickets. So, I think Mumbai Indians have covered all the bases. It depends on where they are playing so it won’t be a disadvantage. That’s what champions can do, even after winning a tournament they try and fill spots and that’s exactly what Mumbai Indians have done,” the 36-year-old former keeper added.
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