First Title Win in 2013

Lore & Background

The Mumbai Indians won the 2011 Champions League Twenty20 after beating the Royal Challengers Bangalore by 31 runs in the final. The team won the double by winning its first IPL title, in 2013, by defeating the Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs in the final, and then defeated the Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs to win its second Champions League Twenty20 title both in the captaincy of Rohit Sharma later that year. They won their second IPL title on 24 May 2015 by defeating the Chennai Super Kings by 41 runs in the final and became the third team to win more than one IPL title. On 21 May 2017, they won their third IPL title by defeating the Rising Pune Supergiant by one run in the final, thus becoming the first team to win three IPL titles. While playing the tournament, they won their 100th T20, becoming the first team to do so. In 2019, they repeated the same feat as they won a record breaking fourth IPL title, by beating CSK by just 1 run on 12 May 2019 in the IPL Final. They became the first team to win the IPL title for the fifth time, by beating the Delhi Capitals by 5 wickets on 10 November 2020 in the IPL Final.

Reader's Guide

The 2013 IPL marked a turning point for the franchise with Anil Kumble joining as chief mentor. Ricky Ponting was initially appointed captain, but after a prolonged slump in batting form, he voluntarily stepped down from the team. Rohit Sharma was named captain mid-season, a move that significantly improved the team's performance. Under Sharma's leadership, Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs in the final at Eden Gardens to secure their maiden IPL title. Kieron Pollard was named Player of the Match for his unbeaten 60.

Did You Know?

• The Mumbai Indians became the first franchise to cross the $100 million mark in brand value in 2017.
• Lasith Malinga became the first player to reach 150 IPL wickets, a milestone achieved entirely with the Mumbai Indians.
• Sachin Tendulkar won the Orange Cap in 2010 for scoring 618 runs in the season.

Franchise Foundation and Ownership

The Mumbai Indians were established in 2008 following the Board of Control for Cricket in India's announcement of the Indian Premier League. In January 2008, Reliance Industries Ltd acquired the franchise rights for a record-breaking $111.9 million, making it the most expensive team sold at that time. Owned by Mukesh Ambani through its subsidiary Indiawin Sports, the team was built to compete as a professional Twenty20 entity based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Their home ground is the Wankhede Stadium, which holds a capacity of 33,108 spectators. The franchise initially designated Sachin Tendulkar as their icon player, securing his services alongside other international stars purchased during the inaugural auctions, such as Lasith Malinga and Shaun Pollock. This strong financial backing and strategic acquisition of talent laid the groundwork for what would become one of the league's most successful franchises.

Early Struggles and Leadership Transitions

The team's initial seasons were marked by significant challenges and leadership instability. During the 2008 campaign, Tendulkar was sidelined early due to a hamstring injury, forcing Harbhajan Singh to assume captaincy. The team started poorly with four consecutive losses before Shaun Pollock took over following the 'Slapgate' incident involving Harbhajan. Although they won six straight games under Pollock, they narrowly missed the semi-finals by a single point. The 2009 season, held in South Africa due to security concerns in India, saw further inconsistency with only five wins from fourteen matches. It was not until the 2010 auction that the team secured Kieron Pollard and appointed Robin Singh as head coach. Despite finishing top of the table in 2010 with Tendulkar winning the Orange Cap, they fell short in the final against Chennai Super Kings, highlighting tactical issues that needed resolution before true success could be achieved.

The Path to First Major Glory

A pivotal shift occurred in 2011 when Rohit Sharma was signed for $2 million, marking a new era of leadership. Although the team finished third in the league stage and lost in the qualifiers during the IPL season, they achieved historic success later that year in the Champions League Twenty20. Facing an injury crisis that depleted their Indian squad, the governing council permitted Mumbai to field five overseas players. Under Harbhajan Singh's captaincy, this unique lineup defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by 31 runs in the final, with Harbhajan named Player of the Match. This victory was the franchise's first major trophy and served as a crucial confidence booster. The following year saw Tendulkar step down as captain, with Harbhajan succeeding him, though the team continued to face challenges with opening combinations and key player injuries before fully consolidating their status as title contenders.

Defining Moments of the 2013 Title Run

The culmination of years of building led to a historic double in 2013 under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. The Mumbai Indians secured their first-ever IPL title by defeating the Chennai Super Kings by 23 runs in the final, establishing themselves as a dominant force in the league. This victory was immediately followed by another triumph later that year when they defeated the Rajasthan Royals by 33 runs to win their second Champions League Twenty20 title. This back-to-back success cemented their reputation and validated the strategic acquisitions made over the preceding years, including the retention of key players like Pollard and Malinga. The 2013 season stands as a defining chapter where the franchise transitioned from a struggling entity to a championship-winning powerhouse, setting the stage for future records and becoming the first team in IPL history to eventually win three titles.