SWOT Analysis, IPL 2024: Can Hardik Pandya Guide Mumbai Indians To Sixth Title?

The 17th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is about to get underway in a few days with fans eager to see their favourite franchises back in action. Mumbai Indians (MI), one of the most successful franchises in the competition's history, will be gearing up for a fruitful season under their new captain Hardik Pandya. Last year, Mumbai Indians reached the Playoffs but a quick-fire hundred from Gujarat Titans' Shubman Gill in Qualifier 2 helped them beat the Rohit Sharma-led MI.

MI under Rohit's leadership became IPL heavyweights with five title triumphs in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.

The Mumbai-based franchise has struggled to recreate its past glory in recent years after losing their core group of players featuring Quinton de Kock, Kieron Pollard, Trent Boult, and the Pandya brothers.

In November 2023, MI traded all-rounder Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in an all-cash deal through the trading window. This transaction provided the necessary funds for MI to finalize another all-cash deal with Gujarat Titans (GT) to acquire the services of Hardik Pandya.

The five-time IPL champions entered the mini-auction with one of the smallest purses in the room - 17.75 crore. MI's think tank, however, got their permutations and combinations right as they acquired the services of Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka, Mohammad Nabi, and Nuwan Thushara for reasonable prices.

According to the two-week schedule announced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), MI will play their tournament opener against last season's runners-up Gujarat Titans on March 24 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

As MI prepare for a new season under a new skipper, let's take a look at their strengths,