Very few franchises command the same aura and legacy in the Indian Premier League as Mumbai Indians. Ahead of every edition of the IPL, MI have had one of the most formidable teams in the tournament. More often than not, their performances have justified the buzz surrounding them. After all, they stand at the top of the pyramid with five IPL titles so far, the joint-most along with Chennai Super Kings.
Their first five games of IPL 2025 did not go the manner in which they would have expected. With only win on the board, there was a lot of uncertainty amongst supporters and experts alike with regards to how they would fare in the remainder of the tournament. As of May 6, they have been on a roll. The Hardik Pandya-led side were on a winning streak of six games, but Gujarat Titans broke it in a rain-affected humdinger. Despite that, the team still has a good chance of making their presence felt in the playoffs.
Will MI’s playoff entry impact others’ chances of winning the IPL?
Psychological Edge
There is no denying that MI have a psychological edge over other sides in the competition. After all, they have reigned supreme in most crunch clashes in the past. They have performed at a completely different level altogether when it comes to high-stakes encounters. This has come to haunt various oppositions in the past on multiple occurrences.
The entire mood of the teams competing in the playoffs changes whenever MI have not made the top four. However, on most occasions of them making it to the playoffs, it has almost been that they have played with the mind of the opposition and beaten them not only on the field, but on a mental level too. Due to their past performances over the years, even the most in-form sides tend to feel the heat.
Tactical Depth
MI have been a renowned outfit for possessing some of the best coaching staff when it comes to past international playing and coaching experience. The masterful brilliance on display by the players often comes from expertly guided advice from the dugout before or during a particular game. Every member of the backroom staff from talent scouts to the analytics team rank amongst the finest in their respective fields.
This depth in strategy has been historically spotted in their squads too. Throughout the years including the current season, MI have a proven match-winner in almost every other position. There have been multiple cases where a few stars have failed to perform. However, someone or the other has always risen to the occasion and taken responsibility when it has mattered the most.
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Unpredictability Factor
As potent as MI have been in the past, there have been instances where the franchise has failed to live up to their supreme expectations. Seasons like 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2023 often serve as vivid examples of the franchise not being able to make it through to the final, despite qualifying for the playoffs after considerable group-stage campaigns prior to their elimination.
There could be multiple reasons behind MI getting knocked out and hence not qualifying for the summit clash. It would not be surprising that the times when they’ve fallen short of progressing to the next stage, the pressure of high hopes might have had an underlying influence on their performance on the day. Consequently, quality oppositions have made the most of MI’s vulnerability.
Current Form
Momentum and recent form play as much of a role as legacy does, especially when teams enter the knockout phase from the round-robin one. With the way MI are navigating their way in the current tournament, the near future seems quite promising for them. They have been operating at full throttle when it comes to their batting and bowling departments. They have been quite impressive on the field too.
However, they would be required to maintain their consistency come the business end of the league phase. Failure to do so could prove costly when it comes to the confidence of individual players which could affect the overall flow of the unit. A rejuventated finish for other sides could prove to be a realistic threat for MI come the playoffs. Hence, it becomes all the more important for MI in terms of maintaining their winning rhythm.
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Conclusion
All in all, MI’s entry into the playoffs doesn’t quite outright eliminate other sides’ chances of clinching the title. However, it certainly complicates them. This is because MI have enough players who have the capability of completely altering the complexion of the game with their game-changing skills.
