Mumbai, already centre of Indian cricket, now proving centre of IPL universe too

Their IPL final match win over Chennai Super Kings means Mumbai join Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai as the only franchises with multiple titles in eight seasons of the league, writes Osman Samiuddin.

Batsman Rohit Sharma of Mumbai Indians. Pawan Singh / The National

Much has been made in the short history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) of the brilliance of the Chennai Super Kings – all of it justified.

They have provided a model for how franchises should work: maintaining a strong core of players, one captain and mostly the same coaching staff.

Their consistency and dominance has been no fluke.

Having the most powerful administrator in cricket as their owner has helped, particularly in keeping them out of trouble and scandals.

But more than any other side, it has been Chennai that has come to represent a vision of what the IPL represents.

Read more:

They are no longer alone, not after the pasting they endured at the hands of the Mumbai Indians in Sunday night’s final.

The win means Mumbai join Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai as the only franchises with multiple titles in eight seasons of the league.

Mumbai have won two of the past three IPLs and, in beating Chennai in both finals as well as multiple wins against them in those seasons, the statement Mumbai have made, that they are the IPL’s dominant force, could not be clearer.

Mumbai, the city, has long been the shining light in Indian cricket, the centre of the game’s strength and many of India’s best players come from there.

Out of Mumbai has emerged the great batting tradition by which India continues to be known.

It is Mumbai that have, historically, dominated the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier first-class competition.

Other centres, such as Delhi and Chennai, have been important and have contributed, but Mumbai has dwarfed all others.

With that history in the game Mumbai in fact took too long to win a first title given the local resources the IPL team can call upon and the fact that when the franchises were first sold, in 2007, Mumbai was understandably the most expensive.

They have consistently been among the highest valued franchises in the league, generally vying with Chennai and Kolkata, and they have always been able to call upon the biggest players in the game.

Yet it took six seasons for them to win an IPL title.

They have had some very poor days, although they have made it to the play-offs in each of the past six seasons.

With their pedigree that should have translated into more that two title wins.

Suddenly, though, this title victory puts a brighter sheen on their history.

Questions may better be asked about Chennai’s record in finals – won two, lost four – and whether it constitutes choking.

But Mumbai’s win this season is particularly impressive given how they started the ­tournament. They lost five of their first six games and Lasith Malinga, for so long their linchpin, seemed spent.

Rohit Sharma, their captain, looked unsure of his status and position in the order, and Harbhajan Singh was proving more useful as a batsman.

But they have turned it around magnificently.

Their batting has put up scores – Lendl Simmons, Sharma and Kieron Pollard in particular – and their bowling has defended outstandingly well.

Sharma, as coach Ricky Ponting pointed out, has been instrumental.

“You can see the growth in Rohit, especially in the second half of this tournament where he has had to make crucial decisions with the bowling changes and the strike bowlers,” the former Australia captain said.

“He has done well under pressure. He has played at different positions for the team, be it opening the batting or batting at No 3 or No 4.

“If he continues to grow and keeps learning the way he is, I have no doubt that he can captain at a higher level.”

Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE