Internet Desk: It may well turn out to be blessing in disguise for Mumbai Indians as New Zealand opening batsman Martin Guptill is set to replace injured Lendl Simmons in IPL 9. An injury to his lower back forced the West Indies opener for the remainder in IPL.
Guptill, who was ignored by the franchises in the auction, will be seen in the cash rich league for the first time. The Kiwi opener was the highest run-getter in the 2015 World Cup with 547 runs.
The defending IPL champions Mumbai Indians will only hope Guptill brings in the same impact as Simmons. The Caribbean opener was Mumbai Indians’ best batsman in their run-in to the title in 2015. Simmons racked up 540 runs in 13 matches with a strike rate of 122.41 and finished the season with six half centuries to his name.
The addition for Guptill means he will further add to the strengths of Mumbai batting which boasts of big hitters like Jos Butler, Kieran Pollard and Corey Anderson.
Mumbai Indians will play newcomers Gujarat Lions at the Wankhede stadium in their next game in the IPL on Saturday.