We have to look beyond legacy of Mumbai cricket to keep winning, asserts Aditya Tare

Mumbai is a city which is known to produce excellent cricketers apart from the rich history and legacy to enhance their status. They have won a staggering 41 Ranji Trophy titles - 33 more than second-placed Karnataka. However, this season Mumbai struggled in all formats. They were knocked out in the Ranji Trophy quarters, they scraped through to the Mushtaq Ali second round and once again couldn’t go past the quarters in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. 

“Plus, we tend to suffer from the monsoon. The first outdoor session we usually have is two days before the first Ranji game. That’s why you see Mumbai struggle in the first couple of games every time… and then we struggle to qualify. The first time I led the full season, my first outdoor session was in Andhra and we lost. Preparation-wise a lot of things need to change. For that we need infrastructure, better facilities,” Aditya Tare was quoted saying by TOI. 

“We struggled in Ranji, one-dayers, T20s. We missed important players when we needed them the most. Five debutants in Vijay Hazare, two-three in Ranji quarters… we faced those challenges, and as a captain, the results have been disappointing. Personally, I thought it was very stressful to see these performances,”the 30-year-old said. 

Abhishek Nayar’s form was a big worry for Mumbai and hence he was dropped after the first few games of the Ranji Trophy. Tare felt that Nayar’s exclusion played a part in the poor performance as one cannot buy experience. 

The 30-year-old skipper felt that it would be great if the bowling attack had more variety.

“It will be great if we have variety… a good legspinner, an offspinner. We don’t have a genuine offspinner since Ramesh Powar went six years ago. Sai [raj Bahutule] retired years back. We haven’t answered that question as well. I have not really thought of where they came from or what the thought process was of identifying that talent. I would love to have 3-4 guys with different skills and then work around with who is needed or who is in form. At the moment we have just heaps of left-arm spinners,” he revealed. 

“I have failed as a player this season. I haven’t scored the runs I usually do. That has been disappointing, as a player and captain. Probably it is my worst year in the six seasons I have played for Mumbai. You can’t expect results when your captain and other experienced players are not performing. Dhawal (Kulkarni) was not among wickets, Surya [kumar Yadav] was not among runs, I was a complete disaster. We were dependent on Siddhesh Lad, who has become a better player. We made a decision that he should bat up the order, which has shown results. That is one positive. Lad has stepped up his game, accepted more responsibility, and done it in all three formats,” the Mumbai Indians player revealed. 

Aditya Tare will be representing Mumbai Indians in the upcoming season of the IPL.