Five times IPL (Indian Premier League) winner Mumbai Indians enter into the auction with purse remaining of 48 crores. The franchise has retained Rohit Sharma (INR 16 Crore), Jasprit Bumrah (INR 12 Crore), Suryakumar Yadav (INR 8 Crore) and Kieron Pollard (INR 6 Crore) in the retention window. Mumbai Indians needs to make a strong replacement for Hardik Pandya who was signed by Ahmedabad franchise. The team is owned by India’s biggest conglomerate, Reliance Industries, through its 100% subsidiary IndiaWin Sports. In 2017, the Mumbai Indians became the first franchise to cross the $100 million mark in brand value among the IPL franchises. Here is a probable list of 11 players MI should target in IPL mega auction 2022:
1. Openers: Quinton De Kock, Devdutt Padikkal
Quinton de Kock is a South African cricketer and former captain of the Proteas in all three formats. He had a terrific 2020 season, scoring 503 runs including four half centuries at the top. He also has a great understanding with his opening partner, Rohit Sharma and his explosive hitting makes things easier for the MI skipper at the other end. His form and performance will be vital to MI’s fortune.
Devdutt Padikal has performed incredibly well in IPL 2020 and won the Emerging Player Award for Royal Challengers Bangalore. Also, he scored 473 runs in 15 matches for RCB in his debut season. In the IPL 2021, he smashed 101 runs not out as RCB beats RR by ten wickets. Therefore, he should be one of the 11 players MI should target in IPL mega auction 2022.
2. Middle Order: Ishan Kishan, Steve Smith & Ajinkya Rahane
Ishan Pranav Kumar Pandey Kishan, is an Indian international cricketer who plays for Jharkhand in domestic cricket. He is an opening batsman as well as a wicket-keeper. In 2016, Gujarat Lions bought him in the auction. In 2018, he was bought by Mumbai Indians in the auction. He was the highest run-scorer for MI in the IPL 2020 with 516 runs from 14 matches and won the most sixes award of the season.
Steven Peter Devereux Smith is an Australian international cricketer and the current vice-captain of the Australia national cricket team in Tests. Steve Smith, moved to Delhi Capitals from Rajasthan Royals after being bought for INR 2.20 Cr during the player auction ahead of the IPL 2021. In November 2018, Smith was retained by RR for the IPL 2019. After losing six out of first eight matches of the season, Smith was appointed as the captain of the Rajasthan Royals by replacing Ajinkya Rahane. In the tournament, he scored 319 runs at an average of 39.87, including three fifties.
Ajinkya Rahane has played 151 IPL matches so far and scored 3941 runs at an average of 31.53 and a strike rate of 121.34. IPL 2019 proves to be an excellent year for him. He smashed 105 runs which is his highest score in all IPL seasons. He will definitely be an asset to MI.
Also Read: What Are The Rules And Regulations In IPL 2022 Mega Auction?
3. All-Rounder: Dwayne Bravo & Jason Holder
Dwayne Bravo is an all-rounder of West Indies with plenty of skill and flair both as a seam bowler and a batter. He retired from test cricket in January 2015. Many times, he chose IPL over West Indies ones. In 2011, he chose the IPL over a two-Test home series against Pakistan. Also, he became a fixture in the Chennai Super Kings line-up in the IPLs: in the 2013 season, he led the wickets tally with 32. Therefore, it will be great for MI if they manage to get him in the team.
Jason Omar Holder is a Barbadian cricketer and the former captain of the West Indies cricket team. Although Holder copped severe criticism for his captaincy, the selectors continued to give him the confidence which worked wonders when the Windies toured England in 2017. In IPL 2021, he took 16 wickets in 8 matches and scored 85 runs with 2 fours and 6 sixes. His incredible performances in earlier seasons makes him a deserving all-rounder that should be in the team.
Also Read: MI Retained Players List 2022
4. Bowlers: Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Kagiso Rabada & Deepak Chahar
Shardul Narendra Thakur is an Indian international cricketer. He is an aggressive quick bowler who can swing the ball away from the right-handers even while hitting the pitch hard. Kings XI Punjab signed Thakur for INR 20 lakhs at the 2014 IPL player auction, but he only got to play one match in his first two seasons for the team. In 2019 Chennai reached the final of IPL. Thakur took two wickets but was out of the final ball of the match with two runs required for victory. However, he played a major role in helping CSK lift the trophy in 2021 season. This time CSK has released him and now MI has a chance to grab the opportunity.
Trent Alexander Boult is a New Zealand international cricketer who plays as a bowler for Northern Districts in New Zealand’s domestic cricket, and New Zealand internationally. During the tour Boult was clocked as the fastest bowler touring with the New Zealand team with a highest speed of 143.3 km/h (89.0 mph). In 2021 IPL, he took 13 wickets in 14 matches with an average of 31.23. Mumbai Indians is expected to fight to get back Trent Boult back.
Kagiso Rabada is a South African international cricketer who plays all formats of the game. He was bought by Delhi Daredevils in 2017 IPL for INR 50 million. He was retained again ahead of 2019 IPL by Delhi Capitals. Boult played 12 matches in the league stage before leaving for national duty. He picked up 25 wickets and become the highest wicket taker for DC and overall, second highest wicket taker of that season. In IPL 2021, he managed to take 15 wickets in 15 matches with an average of 13.00. Batters often find it difficult to face his balls thrown at them.
Deepak Lokendrasingh Chahar is an Indian International cricketer. During the 15th match of the ongoing 14th season of the Indian Premier League between Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai, Chennai Super Kings seamer Deepak Chahar once again picked a flurry of wickets with the new ball to dent the opposition. It was in the first over of the inning that Chahar dismissed Knight Riders opening batsman Shubman Gill (0) after the right-hand batsman slashed a short delivery straight to Lungi Ngidi at third man. In 2021 IPL, he managed to take 14 wickets in 15 matches for Chennai Super Kins (CSK). Thus, MI has a great opportunity to grab him in their team this time.
