The Mumbai Indians (MI) are the most successful franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL) history. The Rohit Sharma-led team has won the IPL title a record five times and will be eager to repeat in 2022.
Since the ‘Hitman’ took over as captain, the ‘Men in Blue and Gold’ have dominated the IPL and emerged as a major powerhouse. However, the 2022 edition of the IPL has grown in size with two new IPL franchises – the Lucknow Super Giants and the Gujarat Titans. And, without a doubt, as more teams join the fray, things will become even more difficult for MI. Let’s look at the three teams that will give the MI team a run for its money in the IPL 2022.
1. Chennai Super Kings:
The Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) rivalry are the best in IPL history. CSK and MI are two of the most successful franchises, having won nine IPL titles and consistently providing fans with exciting battles.
These teams met twice in the tournament’s 2021 edition, winning one game each. CSK, led by MS Dhoni, repurchased some of their long-serving players in the 2022 IPL mega auction. Robin Uthappa, Deepak Chahar, and Ambati Rayudu have all returned to CSK. CSK will threaten Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2022 edition of the IPL, and the match between the two teams will keep fans on the edge of their seats.
2. Delhi Capitals:
The Delhi Capitals (DC) have recently emerged as a force to be reckoned with in IPL cricket. Furthermore, the Capitals bolstered their squad in the 2022 IPL mega auction, and they have several players on their roster who can change the course of a match.
On their day, players like Prithvi Shaw, Anrich Nortje, David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Mustafizur Rahman, Tim Seifert, and Rishabh Pant can make the opposition nervous. When the Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians met in the IPL 2021, the Delhi Capitals won both games. The two teams’ head-to-head record is razor-thin. While MI has won 16 of the 16 meetings between the two teams, DC has won 14. When MI takes the field against DC in the IPL 2022, they will undoubtedly have their work cut out for them.
3. Lucknow Super Giants:
The Lucknow Super Giants will compete in the IPL 2022 for the first time. And they will do so with a powerful squad that includes proven match winners. The team, led by KL Rahul, made wise purchases in the mega auction for the 2022 IPL.
Marcus Stoinis, Quinton De Kock, Jason Holder, Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers, and Evin Lewis are all players who can turn a game on its head in an instant. Aside from that, they have some talented young players like Ravi Bishnoi and Avesh Khan in their arsenal. The Lucknow Super Giants will threaten the other IPL teams, as will the MI team. Rohit Sharma and his team will have their work cut out against the Lucknow side.