Mumbai Indians (MI) were labelled chokers after failing to win the trophy for the initial five seasons. However, things changed for MI supporters in 2013 when Rohit Sharma guided the team to their maiden title win, with his sensational captaincy and batting skills.
Currently, they are the most successful team in the Indian Premier League (IPL), along with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who have won five titles. In 2020, the Men in Blue became the first IPL side to win five trophies. All their title triumphs came under Rohit’s extraordinary leadership. Witnessing the 16-year IPL journey, cricket supporters will be eager to know captains who dominated MI.
Here are the three most successful skippers against MI:
3. Steve Smith
Australia legend Steven Smith was appointed Rajasthan Royals (RR) skipper in the second half of the 2015 IPL. In his vast IPL career, Smith has captained Royals and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS). The Aussie’s captaincy success rate against Mumbai is 75%, with six wins off eight contests.
RPS concluded their 2017 IPL campaign as runners-up under his leadership. During the competition, Pune and MI clashed with each other in four games and the former got the better of the latter thrice. Smith won three games against MI as RR captain as well.
2. Virat Kohli
India batting maestro Virat Kohli led Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from 2013 to 2021. During his eight-year captaincy stint, he confronted MI as a skipper in 16 games and helped his team emerge victorious seven times. These numbers make him the second-most successful captain against Mumbai.
In 2018, Kohli produced his best knock against MI at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Leading from the front, the skipper played an unbeaten knock of 92 off 62 deliveries in his team’s 46-run defeat.
1. MS Dhoni
Chennai Super Kings (CSK) have won 16 games against MI and all these victories have come under MS Dhoni’s leadership. In the 2012 Eliminator at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, the wicketkeeper batter recorded his best score against Mumbai.
As a skipper, he stepped up and played an unbeaten 51-run innings off just 20 deliveries. In his rapid knock, he hit six fours and two maximums. Riding on his extraordinary performance, Chennai registered a 39-run win and qualified for the finals for the fourth time. The veteran also received the Player of the Match award for his stunning knock.
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