RevSportz Comment
Team
Long before the mega auction, this was a team in urgent need of a reset. Last season’s rock-bottom finish, amid the Hardik Pandya captaincy fiasco, made it a second stinker in four years after their last title. Even the 2021 and 2023 seasons were modest by the standards they have set themselves. By opting to retain four players – Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav – who are well into their 30s, and bringing back Mahela Jayawardene as coach, Mumbai have chosen a back-to-the-future philosophy. Tilak Varma is the only young gun in the ranks. Who else can they afford with a modest purse to bring back the glory years?
Auction purse
Apparently, the retained players decided the pecking order among themselves, with Jasprit Bumrah the first among equals. But the cold reality is that Mumbai have already used up 75 crores, leaving only 45 crores to use at the auction in Saudi Arabia. Do they splash the cash on a star name or two, or spread the resources around to create depth?
Areas they need to strengthen
When they were the top dogs, they were defined by a pace enforcer – Lasith Malinga a decade ago, and then the young Bumrah. Who can they bring in to support Bumrah now? Also, the late-overs hitting that was once the preserve of Kieron Pollard, and even Krunal Pandya, hasn’t really been adequately replaced. Also, where is the ace spinner usually associated with any winning team?
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Players they would target
Though Jofra Archer managed only five games, and two wickets, in his injury-interrupted stint with the franchise, word is that they will push the boat out for him. A fit Archer, admittedly a big if, is a game-breaker with both ball and long handle.
On the domestic front, there will be a serious push to bring back Ishan Kishan. Though he has hardly been Mr Consistency, he struck at over 140 in both of the last two seasons.
Also, which experienced spinner will they eye, with both Yuzvendra Chahal and Piyush Chawla part of the auction? Or will it be an overseas star with perhaps more than one string to the bow?
Players they would like to buy back
Mumbai do have one right-to-match card left, albeit for an uncapped Indian player. Chawla would be considered one, since he hasn’t played for India in more than half a decade, but don’t expect the bank to be broken for a 35 year old. Nehal Wadhera made a huge impact in 2023 before falling away in 2024, and Akash Madhwal’s performances with the ball followed a similar arc. Instead, they may look hard at Naman Dhir, whose 140 runs from seven innings last season came at an Andre Russell-like strike-rate of 177.
Also Read: KKR’s Game Plan: Building a Championship Team at the Mega IPL Auction