Cricket expert and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has rated Mumbai Indians as the best team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Acknowledging the five-time champions Mumbai Indians, Manjrekar pointed out their consistent success against all IPL teams, boasting over 50%-win percentage. Comparing their performance with perennial rivals Chennai Super Kings, he noted Mumbai Indians’ thorough victories over various teams, solidifying their status as an IPL powerhouse.
“One thing you have to say is Mumbai Indians are not just a champion team on the big stage. When it comes to CSK versus Mumbai Indians, you see the playoffs and finals as well, MI have beaten CSK. But overall, in the IPL when you look at all teams, nine teams, which team has the best record against all teams? Mumbai Indians. Over 50% win percentage. CSK is good, but they haven’t beaten all other teams as thoroughly as Mumbai Indians have,” Manjrekar said while speaking exclusively to Star Sports during the MI vs CSK Ultimate Team debate.
The former Indian player also named some of the big names which have represented MI in IPL. “When you talk about IPL greats, who do you think of? Rohit Sharma, Pollard, you think of Bumrah, Lasith Malinga, Suryakumar Yadav. All of them are part of Mumbai Indians, so when you think of MI you think of superstars. A bit like our city, Mumbai city, which is filled with superstars. That is what MI is. The brand as well,” he added.
Sanjay Manjrekar also praised the former Indian coach John Wright as the main talent scout responsible for discovering gems like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav for the five time IPL champs.
“We have John Wright, who was India’s coach and he took India to the next level post-2000, and he’s our main talent scout. And one of the talents that came through by scouting was Jasprit Bumrah, turned out to be an ‘okay!’ player, Hardik Pandya, another talent scout discovery, and now Suryakumar Yadav, he was in KKR, but Mumbai Indians scouted him and found a way to make him better, and now we have Tilak Varma,” he said.