What if Mumbai Indians Players Were Cast as The Avengers...

| By Prasham Pratap |

Mumbai Indians is the most successful team in the Indian Premier League. The Avengers, on the other hand, is a series of superhero movies which has a fanbase unlike any other. Now, what if we crossed them over? It would be so much fun, wouldn't it?

So, here is the article where you might or might not disagree with the casting, but will enjoy this crossover nevertheless. We have put players and members of the management of the IPL franchise into the Marvel Studios produced Avengers line-up, based on roles and similarities.

Just in case you don't agree, let us know your perfect casting in the comments.

Mahela Jayawardene- Nick Fury

Jayawardene has to be the Nick Fury in the Avengers series if Mumbai Indians was cast. The head coach of the Mumbai Indians is the one who has picked his team at the auction, just like Nick Fury brought together the Avengers. It is Fury who assembles the Avengers to the S.H.I.E.L.D to fight the evil that is detected to be threatening the existence of the world. Same goes with Jayawardene who assembles the players at the Wankhede every year, a couple of weeks before the start of the season, to fight the rest of the teams.

The Sri Lankan has been working very hard to keep the players together and guide them towards the title, every season, much like Nick Fury. Don't you agree?

Sachin Tendulkar - Iron Man

Now here, you might disagree, but give me a chance to explain. There are a few things that justify this casting. First has to be the length for which both these personalities have associated themselves with their respective institution. Sachin Tendulkar has been with the Mumbai Indians right from the start. Same can be said about the Iron Man.

Secondly, after playing cricket for so many years, the Master Blaster is now a mentor to this IPL franchise. That is what Iron Man has done. After fighting vigorously in the first few movies, Iron Man is now the mentor to Tom Holland (Spider-Man.)

Not to mention, both these personalities are self-made without the help of any external factors. Hence, in my opinion, they make a perfect match, don't they?

Rohit Sharma - Captain America

No points for guessing that Captain America has to be the skipper himself, Rohit Sharma. Having lifted the trophy four times for the Mumbai team under his own leadership, Rohit Sharma is a synonym of captain for the Mumbai dugout now. Also, his cool mind, he has surely been inspiring many young boys.

Captain America is known for his power and strategic mind too. Rohit Sharma’s power needs no introduction as well. When he is in the groove, then no bowler can leave the field without dented bowling figures. What's interesting is the similarity in numbers. Four Avengers movies and four IPL titles. This is how perfect this casting is.

Kieron Pollard - Hulk

The Caribbean hard-hitting all-rounder is arguably the most destructive player of the side. There are no doubts that when he is around, there is some kind of fear in the opposition. When angry, Pollard is at his destructive best. So, is the case with the Incredible Hulk.

You cannot stop them when angry, but when calm, they are minds, as sharp as any. Pollard is the guy who stands in as captain in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Hulk is a part of the core group of Avengers, and so is Pollard for Mumbai Indians. We cannot imagine Pollard associated with any other franchise, can we?

Hardik Pandya - Thor

Thor is the heir of the throne of Asgard, a race different from the human race. He is basically from a different planet and when Hardik Pandya is in the mood of hammering the ball around the park, he too seems to be from a different planet. Thor’s unique weapon is his hammer, and Pandya’s hammer is quite clearly his willow. He can use his willow to send the opponent crashing out of the stadium. Thor has strength and speed, and in case of Pandya, he too has the speed with the ball and strength with the bat.

A good bowler, an even better finisher and an absolute gem of a fielder, he definitely seems to be the next heir of the MI throne. Thor has been a very important and integral part of the Avenger’s series, and so has been Hardik Pandya in the story of Mumbai Indians.

Jasprit Bumrah - Hawkeye

Another integral part of the MI line-up, Jasprit Bumrah can be no one else but Hawkeye. Hawkeye is the avenger with the bows and the arrows. He is known for his accuracy and his tricky variety of arrows. Much like the Hawkeye, Bumrah too is known for his accuracy of line and lengths and the yorkers that he bowls so well at the death, while also have a lot of tricky variations of speed under his belt.

Bumrah is currently the no.1 bowler in the world and he owes his success to the Mumbai Indians. Hawkeye can hit his target just where he wants too. Similarly, Bumrah too has the skill of hitting the stumps with quite some ease that other bowlers in the world lack today.

Lasith Malinga - Dr Strange

A strange casting, you must be thinking. But just imagine. Who better than Malinga to be playing this part. After a life-threatening accident, Dr Strange goes on to learn the mystic arts and eventually becomes the best in it. For me, Lasith Malinga has been nothing but the best at his art of fast bowling. I think now we are on the same page here.

Hence, Malinga has to be the one who plays Dr Strange. Also, though underrated Dr Strange had a very big part to play in the final movie of the Avengers series, the Avengers Endgame. Similarly, Malinga bowled the last over of the 2019 IPL where MI won their fourth title. Remember that LBW of the last ball with 2 runs to win?

Krunal Pandya - Black Panther

Another casting which might have raised question marks in your mind. But think about it. Black Panther is the king of the imaginary country Wakanda, created by the Marvel comics. He has some superhuman powers to go with his skills of acrobatics and hand-held weaponry. Who better in the MI team than Krunal Pandya to be cast as the Black Panther.

He has played only five seasons of the IPL, and what an asset Krunal is to the team already. One of the most valuable players in the team, he strikes with the ball whenever required. A quality off-spinner with more than decent fielding skills accompany his handheld weaponry art, his batting. It was after finding Krunal Pandya that MI let their seasoned off-spinner, Harbhajan Singh go. Time and again, it has been Krunal Pandya who has saved Mumbai Indians from a horrible middle-order batting crisis.

For instance, the most popular Krunal Pandya inning has to be the one that came in the finals of the 2017 IPL. From a struggling state in the middle to take the team to something fightable, Krunal saved the day for the team. This is just like how Black Panther and Wakanda help the Avengers in the third instalment (Avengers Infinity War)

Ishan Kishan - Spider-Man

Ishan Kishan is a 21-year old player for the Mumbai Indians who is the future of the team. He is that kid in Mumbai Indians, much like how Spider-man is the kid to all the Avengers. Under Sachin Tendulkar's (Iron Man) guidance and Rohit Sharma's (Captain America) strategy, Ishan Kishan has surely been showing some promise. Spiderman too has these qualities.

These young personalities might be the names that carry their teams forward. Spider-man has another movie lined up already and so is the case with Ishan Kishan who has many seasons of IPL still in front of him. What do you think about this casting?

John Wright - Vision

The man with a 'Vision' and the man behind unearthing talents like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah has to be the Talent Scout head of Mumbai Indians, John Wright. Both Bumrah and Pandya are today vital cogs in both, Mumbai Indians and the Indian cricket team.

Though Vision in the cinema does not find any of the avengers, it is its advanced capability of seeing through things with the help of the mind stone is what set him apart. Same is the case with John Wright. If it was not for him spotting these boys playing in their local domestic circuit and having the vision of their future, India might not have got their current best bowler and best fast bowling all-rounder.

That's all for this crossover. Let us know if you would make any changes to this casting. There are many more cross overs coming up for you. So, stay tuned here at Take two India!