MINY reinforce domestic core, but superstar firepower remains key

How did they fare last season: Playoffs - Eliminator

Keeping with their franchise tradition of mounting late surges, MI New York elbowed their way to the championship in the inaugural season of MLC in 2023. In 2024, they once again scrambled to reach the playoffs-this time by the barest of margins on net run rate. However, they couldn't replicate the playoff dominance of the previous year and crashed out in the Eliminator at the hands of Texas Super Kings, courtesy of a Faf du Plessis special.

Batting once again proved to be MI New York's Achilles' heel. Tellingly, Rashid Khan, despite contributing only through a string of short cameos, ended up outscoring all but Nicholas Pooran, finishing with 162 runs. He also emerged as one of their standout bowlers, picking up 10 wickets at an economy rate of 6.15. That Rashid, a bowling all-rounder, was their second-highest run-scorer spoke volumes about the brittle nature of their batting lineup. Among the domestic batters, only Monank Patel managed to register a semblance of consistency, with no other player crossing the half-century mark even once. Eventually, MINY pulled the plug on USA regulars Shayan Jahangir and the enigmatic Steven Taylor, who was notably the franchise's first-ever draft pick, after a couple of erratic and underwhelming seasons.

After Tim David was benched mid way through the season, it was increasingly clear that he may have played his last for the MI franchise. Once omnipresent in MI squads globally, David now stands out of favor with the franchise. MINY may miss the in-form Dewald Brevis, who lit up the IPL with Chennai Super Kings and central to MI Cape Town's championship run earlier this year. Brevis has opted to focus on honing his red-ball skills in English county cricket.

Amidst the churn, the mantle will fall on MI stalwart Kieron Pollard and long-time loyalists Nicholas Pooran, Rashid Khan, and Trent Boult to step up and shoulder the responsibility. Boult, of course, was a shadow of his usual self last season, finishing with an economy rate of over 9. However, MINY will be banking on his pedigree and experience to help turn things around this time.

International Contingent:

MINY would want their batting to revolve around their new signing and a proven match winner Quinton de Kock. The 33-year-old has been on the wane since his international retirement last year but the franchise would hope for a spark in form and fortune for him to return to his devastating best as he switches jerseys between MINY and Seattle Orcas. The additions of Azmatullah Omarzai, George Linde and Michael Bracewell will bolster the all round options for MINY. Fast bowler Naveen-Ul-Haq is set to make his debut in MI colours after being released by the Texas Super Kings.

Domestic Cadre:

It will be a proper homecoming for Tajinder Singh Dhillon, the all-weather domestic performer in America, who has made a cross-country switch from the San Francisco Unicorns to MI New York. After largely warming the bench over the past couple of seasons, Tajinder will be hoping for a fresh start with a franchise more aligned with his roots. Joining him is Sharad Lumba, a recent entrant to American cricket but no stranger to the MI setup, having previously featured for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Lumba's prolific returns in Minor League Cricket earned him a well-deserved draft call.

MI New York were the busiest at the domestic player draft, with their picks reflecting both pedigree and potential. Among them is former Mumbai U19 captain and Mizoram batter Agni Chopra, who is set for a symbolic homecoming of his own to a franchise that shares its roots with his hometown Mumbai. Having once appeared in trials for the Mumbai Indians but falling short of making the squad, Chopra will now don the colours of their American offshoot.

MINY continue to believe in the promise of USA captain Monank Patel and left arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige, who has also been a regular with MI Emirates. Monank's T20 stocks have been on the rise in the past 12 months ever since his landmark innings against Pakistan and it will be a subject of intrigue where MINY fit him in the batting order with all the options around. Former Pakistan international Ehsan Adil and Rushil Ugarkar, the rising USA fast bowling prospect will battle it out for the final domestic pacer's spot in the eleven.

Probable XI : Quinton de Kock, Monank Patel, Agni Chopra, Nicholas Pooran, Tajinder Dhillon, Kieron Pollard, Rashid Khan, Trent Boult, Nosthush Kenjige, Naveen-Ul-Haq, Ehsan Adil/ Rushil Ugarkar