Mumbai Indians' Internal Divisions Hinder Playoff Hopes, Says Clarke

Mumbai Indians' Struggles Stem from Internal Divisions, Says Michael Clarke

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has expressed his doubts about the Mumbai Indians' chances of reaching the playoffs in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Clarke believes that the team's inconsistent performances are a result of internal divisions and a lack of teamwork.

"I think there's a lot more going on than what we are seeing on the outside," Clarke said on Star Sports Cricket Live. "You can't have that many good players and perform this inconsistently."

Clarke's comments come after the Mumbai Indians suffered a disappointing start to the season, winning only three of their first nine matches. The team has been plagued by injuries and a lack of form from key players, including captain Rohit Sharma.

Clarke believes that the abrupt change in captaincy, with Hardik Pandya replacing Sharma, has further disrupted the team's chemistry. "Something is not working, they are not gelling together, they are not playing as a team," he said.

Despite having match-winners like Jasprit Bumrah and Romario Shepherd in their squad, the Mumbai Indians have struggled to find consistency. Clarke acknowledged that individual brilliance can sometimes carry a team over the line, but he emphasized the importance of teamwork in winning big tournaments.

"I think to win big tournaments you need to be a team and not just have individual performances," Clarke said. "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."

The Mumbai Indians are currently second-to-last on the points table and face an uphill battle to qualify for the playoffs. They will need to win all of their remaining five matches and hope that other results go their way.

Tags: #MumbaiIndians, #IPL2023, #MichaelClarke, #Teamwork, #InternalDivisions