Yahoo Sport 
IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians Can’t Afford Slow Starter Anymore, They Have To Win Five Out Of Seven Games: Gautam Gambhir
Former Kolkata Knight Riders Gautam Gambhir said that Rohit Sharma-led Mumbai Indians (MI) cannot afford to start slow in the second phase of IPL 2021.
Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians, who are currently ranked on the fourth position of the points table with eight points, will have a challenging task on their head when they restart their campaign in the second leg of IPL 2021.
Mumbai Indians sit fourth on the points table with eight points
MI have played five of their seven matches at Chepauk stadium in Chennai in the first phase, the conditions are completely opposite to what they are used to playing at Wankhede, which has a flat track.
I would feel Mumbai Indians will have an advantage in Dubai or Abu Dhabi: Gautam Gambhir
Gambhir, who himself has won KKR two IPL titles as their captain, feels that the conditions in UAE will suit Mumbai Indians as their new-ball pair Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult will take the advantage of the swinging conditions.
“They’ve played in conditions that are completely different to where they normally play in. When you see the conditions in Chepauk or Delhi, they are completely different from what you get at Wankhede. And, as I mentioned, they are going into conditions that are suited to their fast bowling – people like Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.
“There will be swing upfront, so they will be very dangerous. Plus, Mumbai wants balls to swing and you’ve got quality fast bowlers and it’s going to be an advantage for them. Plus their batters, want the balls to come on to the bat as well, people like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, all those guys struggled at Chepauk, because it was gripping and turning.
“They are not going to struggle, once they start playing in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. So, that’s the reason why I would feel Mumbai Indians will have an advantage; they can’t afford slow starter anymore, because they have seven games to go and they might have to win 5 matches to qualify, so they can’t afford to be in that situation, where they have to win five out of five,” he added.
Mumbai Indians had won the IPL 2020 in UAE and this year they will aim to clinch a hat-trick of titles in their cabinet.
The post IPL 2021: Mumbai Indians Can’t Afford Slow Starter Anymore, They Have To Win Five Out Of Seven Games: Gautam Gambhir appeared first on CricketAddictor.
