IPL 2022: Seems like MI is probably going to finish last – Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar has predicted that Mumbai Indians are going to finish as the cellar-dwellers in the ongoing Indian Premier League 2022. The five-time champions have got off to their worse ever start in the tournament as they have lost all of their first six matches and they are yet to register their maiden win in the season, which has surprised everyone.

Mumbai Indians are one of the most consistent teams in the IPL but they have failed to come up with a collective effort this season. The Men in Blue suffered their sixth loss against Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday as they were beaten by 18 runs at the Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

Nothing has come off right for the Rohit Sharma-led team and it has been a frustrating start for the franchise. MI top-order is failed to fire at full cylinder whereas Jasprit Bumrah is the lone warrior in the bowling line-up but as the others are not contributing enough, his efforts are going in vain.

In fact, six consecutive defeats by Mumbai Indians is their longest losing sequence in IPL as they have failed to tick the right boxes. With eight league stage matches remaining, it will be difficult for Mumbai Indians to qualify for the playoff stages.

Meanwhile, Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) had lost their first six matches in the 2013 season whereas Royal Challengers Bangalore also lost the first six games in the 2019 edition. Mumbai Indians have become the third team to claim the unwanted record.

During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar opined: “Delhi and Bengaluru are the only other teams to lose their first six matches in an IPL season. Those two teams finished last in those seasons when they started badly. It seems like MI is probably going to finish last as well.”

In fact, Mumbai Indians are known for their brilliant scouting team and players like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Krunal Pandya have risen through the ranks while playing for them. However, MI was not at its best at the IPL 2022 mega auction.

Manjrekar elaborated: “They have always been slow starters but have managed to claw their way back. I have always believed that MI has been very good on the ground and on the auction table as well. They won 80 percent of the matches on the auction table due to the kind of players they picked.”

“When I watched the auction live this time, I was wondering what was going on. Despite the kind of players they picked, I was not expecting them to play so poorly. But I did not give them a chance to make the final four. Their key players were gone and the squad picked did not look like a potential champion team.”

Mumbai Indians will face Chennai Super Kings at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy on Thursday.