IPL 2020: A record fifth title is on the way, reckons Pandya

It is not for nothing that they are the most successful team in the Indian Premier League. With four glistening trophies in the bag, the Mumbai Indians are gunning for a fifth piece of silverware to add to their trophy cabinet.

Since the inception of the cash-rich and the world’s most popular T20 franchise league, the Mumbai Indians franchise have kept a strong core and built on it with each passing year to be a cut above the rest.

Theirs is a squad which has all the bases covered and if one glances at their roster, it oozes class from the top and right down to the bottom.

It’s a squad that secretly could be the envy of many and has that ‘all-star’ feel about it. But having a squad such as that is one thing and making them play together as a team is an entirely different proposition all together.

And while other teams may harp about being a family, the Mumbai Indians family are one, in the quite literal sense. They may come from different backgrounds, different countries and different cultures, but they blend so well and have become a crack outfit and the one to beat. Simply put, they back each other and that reflects on the field.

Any XI that they put on the park are match-winners in their own right and one of the team’s talisman Hardik Pandya, said as much after the Mumbai Indians showed their intent against the Delhi Capitals in Qualifier 1 in Dubai, the other night.

This marks the Mumbai Indians’ sixth final in 13 editions and they await the winner of the Eliminator between Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Sunrisers Hyderabad.

They have had some great seasons and not so good ones too and Pandya felt that this is turning out to be a memorable one.

“For me, the best part about this season I have loved is, this team is never about Purple Cap, never about Orange Cap,” Pandya said in a video on the team’s official Twitter handle, following the game against the Delhi Capitals.

“I mean, it’s never about individual brilliance. But I have to tell you that I am so proud of this team this year because individuals have stepped up when even some of their teammates haven’t,” he added.

There’s truth to that too because it was not until Thursday night that they had a player holding either one of those caps, given to the top scoring batsman and the highest wicket taker.

Jasprit Bumrah, undoubtedly India’s best bowler and one of the top pacers in the world at the moment, overtook Delhi Capitals’ South Africa quick Kagiso Rabada to take ownership of the Purple Cap.

“If someone has had a bad day, I have seen multiple times that someone has put his hand up and done it. And the best thing about this team is that it has so many match-winners,” said the all-rounder, who is being used only as a specialist batsman as he eases himself back from a back surgery.

Pandya has scored 278 runs in 13 matches this season with his highest score being a rapidfire unbeaten 21-ball 60 against the Rajasthan Royals in the league phase.

Having done the hard yards, the icing on the cake is what remains.

“This team is just fantastic and I just wish that we will get it. I am confident about the final, just play good cricket, hard cricket and honest cricket. And we will take the cup with us. Let’s get the cup one more time. It’s coming,” Pandya signed off.

james@khaleejtimes.com

• IPL 2024