In a unique experiment, Insidesport turned to Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict the champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for the next 20 years. The results threw up some surprising forecasts, with the Gujarat Titans emerging as the winners of the ongoing IPL 2024 season.
For Mumbai Indians fans, the news might be a little less palatable. The five-time champions, known for their consistent dominance, are predicted to have a long wait for their next title. The AI suggests 2026 will be the year they reclaim the trophy, a six-year gap from their last win. However, their future success seems limited, with another championship win predicted only in 2035.
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It’s important to remember that AI predictions, while interesting, are not set in stone. Nevertheless, it will be interesting if Hardik Pandya, the new MI skipper, could defy the odds and claim MI’s sixth title sooner rather than later.
How MI became one of the most dominant teams in IPL history?
With five IPL titles under their belt, the Mumbai Indians is one of the most successful franchises in IPL history. While Hardik Pandya is the current skipper, it was under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy when MI clinched all their IPL silverwares.
Their dream run started in 2013 and then made a habit of lifting the title every alternate year. They beat Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2013 and 2015 finals before upstaging the Rising Pune Super Giants (RPSG) in 2017. However, in 2019 and 2020, the MI franchise won back-to-back titles, defeating CSK and Delhi Capitals, respectively. The Mumbai-based franchise are on a drought since 2020, as they haven’t qualified for the finals as well.
A stuttering start for Hardik Pandya as MI’s leader
Despite being one of the heavyweights, Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2024 campaign has started in a dull fashion. They were winless in their first three fixtures. It was only recently they bagged their maiden win of the season, beating DC at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, April 7.
Talking about Hardik Pandya, the new MI skipper has been met with a wave of challenges. The initial matches painted a grim picture for MI, raising doubts about Pandya’s captaincy and the team’s overall strategy. The Indian all-rounder even faced huge flak from the fans, who didn’t accept his appointment as MI leader in place of Rohit Sharma.
However, there have been glimpses of hope. MI’s recent victory provided a much-needed boost to their morale and offered a chance for Pandya to prove his doubters wrong.
