IPL 2023: Tim David will be X-factor, Jofra Archer biggest strength for Mumbai Indians, says Sunil Gavaskar

The
legendary
India
batter
has
also
claimed
Australia
all-rounder
Tim
David
as
the
X-factor
for
the
five-time
IPL-winning
side
in
the
upcoming
edition,
where
MI
will
once
again
be
led
by
captain
Rohit
Sharma.

On
Mumbai
Indians’ trump
card
in
IPL
2023

Gavaskar,
while
speaking
exclusively
to
Star
Sports
who
are
the
official
television
broadcaster
of
IPL
2023,
gave
an
extensive
analysis
of
Mumbai
Indians’
squad
for
the
upcoming
sixteenth
edition
of
the
cash-rich
league.

“Jofra
Archer,
one,
definitely.
I
think
Ishan
Kishan
after
his
debut
for
India
in
one-day
cricket
getting
a
double
hundred,
he
will
be
somebody
to
watch
out
for
as
well.
And
I
think
Rohit
Sharma
will
do
something
really
special
this
season,”
said
the
Mumbaikar,
highlighting
who
will
be
the
trump
card
for
MI.

Mumbai
Indians
strength
in
IPL
2023

The
legendary
batter
termed
Archer
–
the
speedster
from
England
–
as
the
Mumbai
Indians’
biggest
strength
in
the
competition.

“Their
biggest
strength
is
obviously
going
to
be
Jofra
Archer
coming
back,
because
Jofra
Archer
is
a
kind
of
bowler
who
can
take
you
wickets
at
the
start
and
who
can
bowl
the
overs,
the
final
couple
of
overs
where
he
can
get
the
wickets
and
block
the
runs
as
well,”
Gavaskar
said.

MI’s
weakness
going
into
IPL
2023

The
73-year-old
while
analysing
the
weaknesses
of
the
MI
going
into
the
competition
raised
the
unavailability
of
a
quality
spin
bowler.
He
added
further,
“I
think
it
would
be
perhaps
the
spin
combination
because
they’ve
really
got
a
lovely
new
ball
attack.
The
spin
combination
looks
just
a
little
bit
light.”

Game
changer
for
Mumbai
Indians
in
IPL
2023

Gavaskar
also
highlighted
that
Tim
David
is
the
game
changer
in
the
MI
squad,
he
said,
“I
think
it’s
going
to
be
Tim
David.
Tim
David
is
going
to
be
the
X-
Factor
because
he
is
the
kind
of
player
who
can
change
the
game
in
a
couple
of
overs.
Cameron
Green,
he’s
again
somebody
who
will
make
a
big
difference
with
both
bat
and
ball.
He
might
even
bat
at
number
three
because
of
the
fact
that
when
he’s
played
for
Australia,
he’s
opened
the
batting
and
he’s
scored
so
many
runs
so
quickly.”

Gavaskar
predicts
Mumbai
Indians
journey
in
IPL
2023

The
cricketer-turned-commentator
went
on
to
claim
that
Rohit
Sharma
and
his
band
will
have
a
point
to
prove
this
time
around
as
the
winners
of
IPL
2020
season
have
endured
two
forgettable
editions
on
the
trot.
MI
finished
in
the
second
half
of
the
points
table
in
the
league
stage
in
IPL
2021
and
IPL
2022.

He
further
added,
“They’ll
have
to
forget
what
happened
last
season,
this
is
a
fresh
season
to
believe
that
they
can
do
it
again.
They’ve
got
the
team,
they
are,
you
know
probably
going
to
miss
Jasprit
Bumrah,
but
otherwise,
they’ve
got
a
team
that
can
win
the
championship
once
again.
I
see
them
being
in
the
top
two
this
time
around
or
top
three
definitely
because
I
think
they
have
a
point
or
two
to
prove
after
their
last
year’s
performance.”

Top
4
overseas
players
for
MI

Gavaskar
also
picked
the
four
overseas
players,
which
according
to
him,
will
be
crucial
in
MI’s
success
this
season.
He
even
predicted,
where
coach
Mahela
Jayawardene’s
boys
will
finish
at
the
end
of
the
season.

“The
four
overseas
picks
would
be
the
big
signing
Cameron
green.
Another
big
signing,
Jofra
Archer.
Tim
David,
three.
And
between
the
two,
depending
on
form,
depending
on
the
opposition,
either
Tim
or
Stubbs
or
Dewald
Brevis,”
he
signed
off.

TATA
IPL
2023
will
be
live
telecast
on
television
between
March
31
and
May
28
on
the
Star
Sports
Network.