Former India wicket keeper-batsman Parthiv Patel believes that defending champions Mumbai Indians have the team that can play well on any surface and says that not playing at Wankhede won’t be much of an issue for them.
The format for IPL 2021 this year is such that no team will have the ‘home advantage’ for the tournament. Mumbai Indians will start their campaign in Chennai against the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore.
But Parthiv Patel believes that the Mumbai Indians unit is quite settled and added that the defending champions do not need to ‘tinker a lot with their playing XI’.
“I don’t think Mumbai Indians will be thinking of where they are playing next. All the teams would be thinking about where they are playing first and you know, try and get their best team forward, try and get their best XI on the path.
“If they are playing in Chennai, you might expect some spinner but from the Mumbai Indians’ point of view, I don’t think they have to tinker a lot with their playing XI,” Parthiv Patel told Star Sports.
The five-time champions were by far the best side in IPL 2020 and topped the group during the play-offs. They beat a good Delhi Capitals side comfortably in the final to take yet another IPL title.
The nucleus of the team revolves around their skipper Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya and Kieron Pollard.
Parthiv also said that they have a settled bowling unit and added that it looks like all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be bowling for the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2021.
“Hardik Pandya is bowling quite a bit now, almost bowling 4 overs, Pollard bowls his slower ones really well, which might be useful on a Chennai wicket.
“And obviously, Rahul Chahar had an outstanding IPL, a couple of outstanding IPLs and hence, he was picked for India. Krunal Pandya’s four overs, his form in domestic cricket, so I can go on and on about it,” Parthiv added.
