"There are different groups inside that changing room and something is not working" - Michael Clarke on MI's issues ahead of crucial LSG clash
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke feels there may be divisions inside the Mumbai Indians (MI) dressing room, resulting in the side's struggles on-field thus far in IPL 2024.
Boasting arguably the strongest squad on paper, MI has endured a torrid time on the field, winning only three out of nine games. Skipper Hardik Pandya taking over as captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, has generated negative responses amongst the franchise's fans.
That has spilled over to Hardik's own performances and the collective showing of the side as they sit second to bottom with five games remaining.
Ahead of MI's crucial encounter against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Clarke told Star Sports:
"I don’t know. I think its wishful thinking for Mumbai this entire IPL. I think there’s a lot more going on than what we are seeing on the outside and you can’t have that many good players and perform this inconsistently. I think there are different groups inside that changing room and something is not working, they are not gelling together, they are not playing as a team."
After losing the first three games, MI bounced back with three wins in their next outings.
However, defeats in their last two fixtures have meant that the five-time IPL champions are in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the third time in four seasons.
"To win big tournaments you need to be a team and not just have individual performances" - Michael Clarke
Michael Clarke feels it would be difficult for MI in its current form to defeat LSG in the upcoming clash at Lucknow on April 30.
However, the Aussie great admitted a brilliant performance from a few of their key match-winners could win them to the LSG game even if that formula wouldn't be enough to win the tournament.
"Individual brilliance can get them over the line, if Rohit Sharma comes in and gets another hundred or Hardik does something with the bat or Bumrah bowls like a genius again, you never know. I think to win big tournaments you need to be a team and not just have individual performances and unfortunately they haven’t played well as a team so I hope they turn it around, but I can’t see them winning this game," said Clarke.
The upcoming clash will be the first of two meetings between MI and LSG this season, with a win potentially propelling the former to sixth on the points table.
A loss will almost eliminate MI from playoff contention barring several miraculous results going their way for the rest of IPL 2024.