IPL 2020 | Mumbai Indians will win IPL 2020 amid severe competition, predicts Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin predicts Mumbai to lift the trophy
|IPL
Sachin Tendulkar, who captained the Mumbai Indians from 2008 till 2011 has predicted the franchise under Rohit Sharma’s leadership will win the 2020 edition of the IPL. However, at the same time, he also admitted that the competition this year will be quite close, as all sides are equally strong.
While possessing one of the best all-round units in the competition, Mumbai Indians fell flat on their face in their opening fixture against Chennai Super Kings. Perennially, the Rohit Sharma led franchise have struggled in the first set of games, with them losing every single opening game since 2014, going on to show that they are slow-starters.
Alongside that, despite being slow starters, Mumbai Indians have won three titles since that time period, showcasing why they are one of the favourites going into the tournament. Sachin Tendulkar thought no different, as he also predicted the franchise to win the competition despite all teams looking equally strong on paper.
"Of course, the Men in Blue, are there any doubts? I've always been in blue everywhere. When Mumbai and Indians come together then it becomes Mumbai Indians," Tendulkar told Aakash Chopra on the latter's Youtube channel.
What allows Mumbai to make a comeback is the duration of the competition, ranging to 53 days, which allows slow-starters such as Rohit Sharma’s side to make the required changes to return with favourable results. However, at the same time, Sachin admitted that the format is quite tasking for the players, with the games coming in thick and fast, which makes sides with momentum as favourites.
"All teams are quite balanced. This format is such that by the time you play, a lot has already transpired on the field. We can look at this in two ways. Batsmen who seem to be in a hurry are cautioned to take it easy, while those who are extremely relaxed at times are required to take swift actions. It is going to be an exciting competition, and matches will be evenly contested. Considering the 53-day duration of the tournament, the team with momentum on its side might prevail."
Mumbai's next fixture comes against Kolkata Knight Riders, at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.
