IPL 2021: Pragyan Ojha Warns Mumbai Indians To Not Be 'Overconfident'

Former India and Mumbai Indians (MI) spinner, Pragyan Ojha provides a caveat for the Rohit Sharma-led outfit to not be overconfident in pursuit of their sixth IPL title this season. If Mumbai Indians win the IPL 2021, then they would become the first team in the history of the tournament to make a hat-trick of trophies having won it in the last couple of seasons, and 5 overall, all under Rohit Sharma.

The Ambani-owned franchise has been the team to beat since the Nagpur-born Rohit Sharma was handed the captaincy mid-season in 2013. He led them to victories in 2013. 2015,2017,2019, and 2020 – breaking the even year hoodoo.

They take on Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season opener of IPL 2021 in Chennai to take a step towards an unprecedented sixth, and a 3 in a row IPL title.

MI looks a complete side, they haven’t changed much in the past couple of years: Pragyan Ojha

Pragyan Ojha, who was part of the championship-winning Mumbai side in 2013 and 2015, opines that Rohit’s team looks complete. He observed that the side hasn’t changed much in the past couple of years, and that has been the key reason for their success.

Pragyan Ojha also pointed out that MI has further beefed up by adding the likes of Adam Milne, Piyush Chawla, and James Neesham as back-ups or replacements, and opines that they seem a confident outfit.

“MI looks a complete side, they haven’t changed much in the past couple of years. Even in the auction this year they were looking for replacements. Their entire team is set, and they look a very solid side. With back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020, I think they look like the most confident side. They should have confidence but not be overconfident,” Pragyan Ojha told Sports Today.

Former India wicketkeeper, Deep Dasgupta asserts that the feeling of togetherness in any side is crucial to their success in the tournament. Dasgupta says that gathering everyone as a single unit, especially at the start of the season, is vital, and an imposing challenge.

“I say this before every IPL that the tournament is all about how the players gel together. You can have 11 amazing individuals but as a team they might not gel because they don’t have the time to get to know each other. The biggest challenge is how everyone gels together, what kind of form they are in, what kind of mental space they are in,” Deep Dasgupta said.

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