Mumbai Indians may have won a record five Indian Premier League titles but the defending champions are notoriously infamous as slow starters. Under skipper Rohit Sharma, the Mumbai outfit have not won their opening match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) since 2013, when they beat the Chennai Super Kings. 

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Incidently, that nine-run win came in today’s venue, the MA Chidambaram in Chennai. It was Rohit Sharma’s first season as Mumbai Indians skipper and he led the side that year by example, finishing the tournament with 538 runs. Mumbai won their maiden IPL title that year.

Despite not getting off to an ideal start, Mumbai have always bounced back, as they have gone on to win the tournament a record five times. They are also only the second team to successfully defend the title, since Chennai Super Kings in 2010-11 adn are aiming to become the first side in IPL history to complete a hattrick of title wins. 

Will it be ninth-time lucky for Mumbai, as they take on the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the first match of IPL 2021.