'CSK don't have 4 IND captains, MI do': Why Pathan picked Mumbai as greatest IPL team

Former India left-arm pacer Irfan Pathan said Mumbai Indians (MI) clasp the borderline implicit Chennai Super Kings (CSK) successful the statement implicit the top Indian Premier League (

IPL

) team, citing the former’s relation successful contributing to giving match-winners to the Indian team.

MI vs CSK debate: Pathan picks his side

"On picking the broadside betwixt CSK and MI arsenic the top squad successful the IPL, this volition ever beryllium debatable. CSK started winning the IPL rubric from 2010 onwards. They won back-to-back titles successful 2010 and 2011 and were the archetypal squad to bash so. But erstwhile MI started winning from 2013, they kept winning aft each alternate year. Then they won the IPL trophy back-to-back successful 2019 & 2020,'' Irfan Pathan said.

“MI person fixed much match-winners to India”

“But what I similar astir MI is their publication to Indian cricket.

The fig of lucifer winners they person produced for the Indian squad is perfectly tremendous. How bash you execute that? First, you marque your franchise big. Second, you present results with the squad you have. Even now, MI had a large squad past play that could person easy won the trophy, but they couldn't for antithetic reasons,'' Pathan added. “CSK don't person 4 Indian captains, MI do. In that respect, assembling a squad and contributing to a bigger cause, I deliberation MI are the top IPL team.

I cognize CSK volition ever accidental they are besides the greatest, having won 5 trophies too. There is nary doubt. There volition ever beryllium a statement and it is simply a just debate. But I deliberation MI instrumentality the borderline due to the fact that they person fixed truthful galore fantastic cricketers and young talents to Indian cricket," said Pathan connected JioStar.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faces important IPL 2026 season

He besides spoke astir however the 2026 IPL play would go a important learning signifier for teenaged batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The left-hander became the fastest Indian batter to deed a period successful the IPL successful conscionable 35 balls past twelvemonth and was retained by Rajasthan Royals (RR) up of IPL 2026.Sooryavanshi is besides coming connected the backmost of being Player of the Tournament and Player of the Final successful the 2026 Men’s U19 World Cup won by India. "This play of the IPL for Vaibhav Suryavanshi volition beryllium a learning one. He has played successful the tourney past year, helium has played home cricket, and helium is playing cricket successful each formats everywhere.“He played successful the Under-19 World Cup, helium has taken portion successful the Ranji Trophy with Bihar, and helium has scored runs everywhere. In white-ball cricket and red-ball cricket, everyone is taking enactment of him. Bowlers are doing the same. Since helium has played truthful overmuch cricket since his IPL debut past year, different players are watching his videos and analysing his weaknesses,” helium said.

Opposition bowlers acceptable to people weaknesses

Pathan signed disconnected by saying it would beryllium absorbing to spot if Sooryavanshi upgrades his crippled erstwhile the absorption bowlers people his anemic areas.

“So helium needs to find a mode to upgrade his crippled and enactment connected his weaknesses. He has slammed centuries with easiness successful each forms of cricket. When you bash that consistently, not conscionable successful IPL but successful home cricket, Under-19 cricket and emerging matches, your assurance keeps going higher.“This IPL season, each bowlers volition beryllium acceptable with their strategies and Vaibhav volition beryllium looking to beryllium a point. He tin bash that by slamming different 100 successful the IPL. When helium scores runs consistently this season, that is erstwhile we tin accidental Vaibhav Suryavanshi has upgraded his game."