Team composition
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Total EFscore of top 11 players: 1.055
Total EFscore of all ranked players: 1.071
The defending champions adopted a very smart strategy heading into this year’s player auction. First, they retained their five players from the previous year (Rohit Sharma, Lasith Malinga, Keiron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh and Ambati Rayudu). Then they adopted a sound plan to build around this winning core. To fill in the departure of their star batsman Tendulkar, they brought in Mike Hussey, who according to our ranking, was the best player in IPL 2013. Even at a price of 833K dollars, he is a relative bargain. They also nabbed Corey Anderson in the auction, who will provide them with a power bat at the top of their line-up. In the bowling department, they are well stacked in both fast and spin bowling, and the opposing teams will have a tough time putting up a big total on the board against them.
The team did a very good job of spreading out the money during the IPL auctions, unlike some of the other teams. The result is a solid team with a good balance in both batting and bowling. If they continue their form from the previous season, they have a good chance of becoming the champions once again.
Roster management: Corey Anderson should make it to the final eleven, and together with Hussey, Pollard and Malinga, will be the four overseas players in the team. The team has adequate depth in the bowling and wicket-keeping department, but they are a little thin in terms of batting. Nevertheless, expect the Mumbai Indians to field a formidable eleven in each of their match in this tournament.
Dark horse: Corey Anderson is not ranked in our player ratings, since he did not player in the IPL last year. However, he is a tremendous batsman and is a great pick-up for Mumbai Indians. He has the potential to make an impact similar to what David Miller had in the previous season. If he turns on the heat, Mumbai Indians will be unstoppable this year.