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“At MI, winning was everything. We called it the MI Attitude” - is one prolific statement by MI legend Ambati Rayudu that underlines the legacy of Mumbai Indians in T20 competitions.

If ‘All for one and one for all’ is what gave the Blue and Gold the adrenaline hunger to chase success, then the sayings ‘work your fingers through the bone’ and ‘leapfrog the competition’ would summarise the journey of how MI superseded all the challengers thrown their way and became a champion in the men’s and women’s arena of cricket.

And, as we approach the countdown to the start of the WPL and IPL 2024, we revisit and reminisce those memorable nights when the MI trophy cabinet kept getting more and more gold.

1. MI vs RCB, Champions League T20 2011 final - ‘Where there is a will, there is a way!’

Injuries and inexperienced players but a multitude of self-confidence - that is the underlying storyline of how Harbhajan Singh catapulted an odds-defying 31-run victory for Mumbai Indians over RCB. A 29-ball 41 from James Franklin and Aapla Dada Surya’s 24 off 17 balls saved the day for MI with the bat as they gave their bowlers a fighting total of 139 to defend. The spin prowess of Bhajji (3/20) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/9) shook the Bangalore batting order as they collapsed from 38/0 in 4 overs to 108 all out in 19.2 overs. Another fun stat in this win is MI’s successful escape after giving away 20 extras (byes 4, leg-byes 1, no-ball 1, wides 14).

2. MI vs CSK, IPL 2013 final - ‘Fate defeated, history created!’

The start of the winning juggernaut! A spirited innings from Kieron Llord Pollard (60 not out from 32 balls) and support from Ambati Rayudu (37 runs off 36 balls) inspired Mumbai to post a fighting score (148/9) against CSK. The intricate bowling spells from Harbhajan (2/14), Mitchell Johnson (2/19) and Lasith Malinga (2/22) made Chennai’s batting crumble down to a score of 125/9 in 20 overs. The Blue and Gold flag took centre stage at Eden Gardens as we put the ghosts of the IPL 2010 final defeat to rest.

3. MI vs RR, Champions League T20 2013 final - ‘The Turbinator Rises….. again’

2011 - Win CLT20 and Player of the Match

2013 - Win CLT20 and Player of the Match

Harbhajan Singh’s legacy as a serial title winner for Mumbai Indians was second to none. After winning the trophy as a captain (2011), Bhajji showed his winning mentality as a player in the following edition. Earlier, stupendous knocks from Dwayne Smith (44), Glenn Maxwell (37) and Rohit Sharma (33) ensured MI had a monumental score (202/6) on the board. A 109-run partnership between Ajinkya Rahane (65) and Sanju Samson (60) seemed to revitalise the Royals batting, but the critical intervention by Harbhajan Singh (4/32) - including his triple strike (Ajinkya Rahane - 16.1, Stuart Binny - 16.4, Kevon Cooper - 16.6) in the 17th over - elevated Mumbai to become the first T20 team to win the Champions League T20 twice. 

4. MI vs CSK, IPL 2015 final - ‘Eden Gardens Romance, dobara’

An IPL final. Eden Gardens. MI vs CSK. And, a Mumbai Indians victory. It was as if time had rewound to 2013 again. The energetic half-tons from Lendl Simmons (68) and Rohit Sharma (50), coupled with sturdy knocks from Kieron Pollard (36) and Ambati Rayudu (36 not out), ensured Mumbai had a strong score - 202/5 - to back their march for a second IPL title. Mitchell McClenaghan (3/25) and Slingaa Malinga (2/25) applied the hard brakes on Chennai’s run chase and combined to keep MS Dhoni’s men 41 runs short of a triumph.

5. MI vs RPSG, IPL 2017 final - ‘Never stop believing!’

One of the major cricket events that shaped the MI winning mentality today is *this* IPL final. With the Qualifier 1 defeat to Rising Pune Supergiant still fresh in the mind, MI ensured the scores were settled in style. Krunal Pandya’s clutch innings (47 runs off 38 balls) got Mumbai out of troubled waters (79/7 to 129/8) and set a target of 130 for RPSG. Steven Smith (51) and Ajinkya Rahane (44) set the tone for Pune to take the chase to the final over. But with a stunning catch from Ambati Rayudu and Mitch Johnson nailing the final delivery with some smart field placements, by the barest of margins, IPL 2017 was ours! 

6. MI vs CSK, IPL 2019 final - ‘Hand of God (Lasith Malinga version)’

Can you list the words that start with M? Mumbai, Malinga, Miracle - in that order. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad was engulfed in a raging sea of Blue and Gold when the Sri Lankan icon bowled the now iconic final over against CSK. But first, let’s set up the plot. Llord Pollard (41* off 25 balls) helps MI to 149/8. Shane Watson takes Chennai to 141/5 in 19 overs. Rahul Chahar (1/14 and 13 dots in 4 overs) and Jasprit Bumrah (1, W, 2, 0, 2, 4byes in the 19th over) chipped in at crucial stages before letting Slingaa Malinga bowl the final over. The equation shifted from 13 needed in six balls to five runs in three balls, and finally, two runs off 1 ball. The last ever slower-dipping yorker from Lasith Malinga not only got CSK’s Shardul Thakur out LBW but also scripted a champion finish to his cricket career with an IPL trophy and a banquet of love from the Fa-MI-ly.

7. MI vs DC, IPL 2020 final - ‘High five!’

The night where history was re-written. A record fifth title, breaking the jinx of winning only in the odd years. Delhi batted first but were reduced to 22/3 inside four overs. Shreyas Iyer (65 not out) and Rishabh Pant (56) withstood Trent Boult’s assaults (3/20 and two scalps in the powerplay) to post 156/7 in 20 overs. For Mumbai, the Hitman championed the cause with a 51-ball 68 (5 x 4s, 4 x 6s) to airlift MI to triumph over Delhi Capitals.

8. MI vs DC, WPL 2023 final - ‘The first team to win IPL and WPL titles!’

A historic first, and history straightaway. Three-wicket hauls from Hayley Matthews (3/5) and Issy Wong (3/42) and a supporting cameo from Amelia Kerr (2/18) reduced Delhi Capitals Women to 131/9 despite the late bursts of confidence from the tailenders. But when it came to chasing, a resolute Nat-Sciver Brunt (60 not out off 55 balls) and skipper Harmanpreet Kaur’s 39-bal 37 paced the chase to perfection, and made sure MI won their first WPL crown and signalled the beginning of a new era for cricket in India, dipped in the colours of Blue and Gold.