Mumbai Indians have a reputation of roping in not only the best of players but also the best of the strategists as members of their coaching staff. This trend has continued ahead of the eighth edition of the Pepsi Indian Premier League, with a bit of cherry on top!

As part of the reshuffle ahead of IPL-8, the Mumbai Indian’s management has brought in Ricky Ponting as the head coach and Shane Bond as the bowling coach. This move meant that John Wright, head coach for the last two years, has moved into a talent identification role, while Anil Kumble, who was the team mentor, has been elevated to the owner’s role.

Not only has Ponting been one of the greatest batsmen to have played the game, but he has also led the Australian team with distinction. He has often been referred to be very fortunate to be leading a team, which comprises of best in the business – the McGraths, the Lees, the Warnes, the Gilchrists. But to keep the flock together is one of the greatest and the most wanted virtues of a captain; and Ponting did it with elan!

Ponting is no stranger to IPL, more importantly to the Mumbai Indians. While he made his maiden IPL debut for Kolkata Knight Riders in the first IPL edition, he signed off as a player after being an integral part of the MI set-up during their successful 2013 season.

Ponting was also roped in as the leader of the Mumbai Indians for IPL-6. Since he didn’t really have a good run, he pulled himself out of the eleven and passed on the captaincy baton to Rohit Sharma. Hitman Rohit, set off a dream run that culminated in the Mumbai Indians ending their wait for an IPL title. But Ponting continued to play his role, with his mentoring and strategizing skills in the dressing room.

Last year, Ponting was associated with the team in an advisory role. The Australian admitted that the 2013 season will hold him in good stead going into his first coaching assignment. “I am really excited about it. I had a great time with the Mumbai Indians the last time in 2013, where we were lucky enough to win the IPL. I really enjoyed my time with the team and I found the people around the franchise and the players to be excellent” Ponting told iplt20.com.

Ponting’s trans-Tasman counterpart Bond will also be more than handful in the dressing room. With the presence of Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, the young MI spinners have been taken care of when it comes to grooming their skills. Bond will focus more on the pacers.

Had it not been for injuries, the former Kiwi speedster would have ended his career with monumental numbers. But the fact that he outdid Ponting and his battery of batsmen virtually every time he played against Australia, spoke highly about Bond’s speed and skills. He has made a name for himself in the coaching arena as well and has been instrumental in converting the New Zealand pace bowling unit as the best, in the ongoing World Cup. He will join the Mumbai Indians immediately after his contract with the New Zealand team expires, at the end of the World Cup.

The inclusion of these two new additions make it a real formidable back-end unit for the Mumbai Indians for the forthcoming IPL-8. It is a murmur in the IPL circles that the Mumbai Indians support staff, if it takes the field, has the capability to better some of the other teams in the IPL! While the joke isn’t really exaggerated, Ponting and Company are more focussed on helping their wards regain the crown.