Legendary Indian spinner and former captain Anil Kumble focused on one of the most debated topics in franchise cricket – which team stands as the greatest in its history. Indian Premier League (IPL). According to Kumble, it is almost impossible to separate the league’s two most popular franchises as he has placed them at the top of the all-time IPL rankings. The former leg-spinner believes that both the teams have created their legacies through different strategies while achieving remarkable success.
Anil Kumble reveals the greatest teams in IPL history
Speaking on JioStar, Kumble went with it Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings and explained that it is quite difficult to compare Mumbai and Chennai as both the franchises have dominated the league at different times. With five titles to their name each, MI and CSK remain the most successful teams in IPL history, setting benchmarks for consistency and excellence.
Kumble noted that while fans often try to debate which team is superior, the reality is that their achievements keep them almost on par. According to him, their advantage is based on strong leadership, smart management and well-defined team philosophies.
“MI is very close to CSK or almost the same when you talk about the biggest team in IPL because you can’t tell one from the other” Kumble said while discussing the league’s two powerhouses.
A legacy built by stability and experienced players
Kumble pointed out that Chennai built their success primarily on consistency in team selection and reliance on experienced players. Over the years, the franchise has been known for supporting proven performers rather than making frequent changes to the team.
This approach helped CSK maintain stability and consistency, allowing the players to perform with clarity and confidence. Kumble noted that the franchise has recently started attracting more young players, but the core philosophy of relying on seasoned campaigners has remained intact.
This strategy has worked extremely well for the team, allowing them to stay in contention almost every season and build one of the strongest fan bases in the tournament.
“CSK have always been consistent with their selections. They go to people who have been there and done that. It was only last year that we saw a few youngsters take that step.” Kumble said.
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A plan to discover and build future stars
While CSK focused on experience, Kumble pointed out that Mumbai Indians took a slightly different route. The franchise has developed a reputation for identifying raw talent and developing them into world-class players. Several notable names in Indian cricket have risen through the scouting system, including MI Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya and jasprit bumrahThose who come out of the franchise’s talent pipeline before becoming major international stars.
Kumble also referred to the young players who have made a strong impact for MI in recent seasons Nehal Wadherawho impressed with his performances before joining the new franchise. According to Kumble, the ability to scout and nurture players has been a defining feature of Mumbai’s long-term success in the IPL.
“MI went a little bit further and looked at players that nobody had seen before, some of them did well at the domestic level. So people like Hardik, Krunal and Jasprit all came through. And then we saw what happened. Recently, you had Nehal Wadhera, who has now moved to PBKS but has done really well.” Kumble added.
. According to Kumble, it is almost impossible to separate two of the league’s most iconic franchises.){kind=link}