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Here’s a look at 10 players five-time IPL champion Mumbai Indians can target in the upcoming IPL 2025 mega auction in Jeddah.
10 players MI can target at IPL 2025 mega auction. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics, X/@mipaltan)
After a forgetful performance in the IPL 2024, where they could only manage to win four matches and finish at the bottom of the points table, five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians would like to come up with a big show in the 2025 edition of the cash-rich league. Ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, which is scheduled to take place in Jeddah on November 24 and 25, MI retained five capped Indian players from the 2024 squad.
Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was MI’s first retention for Rs 18 crore, and he was followed by Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Rohit Sharma, who will earn Rs 16.35 crore, Rs 16.35 crore, and Rs 16.30 crore, respectively. Apart from the four members of India’s T20 World Cup 2024 winning team, MI also retained Tilak Varma for Rs 8 crore after he impressed with his batting performances in the last three seasons.
In the last three editions of the cash-rich league, MI struggled to find a replacement of Kieron Pollard as finisher and also missed the presence of a quality spin-bowling all-rounder, an Indian spinner, and a couple of world-class pacers. So in the upcoming mega auction, the Mumbai-based franchise would like to learn from past mistakes and build a strong squad.
Here’s a look at 10 players MI can target in the IPL 2025 mega auction:
Jos Buttler: After releasing Ishan Kishan, MI need a wicketkeeper-batter as well as an opening partner for Rohit, and England’s white-ball captain, Jos Buttler, fulfils both criteria. Buttler is one of the best T20 players of all time and will be part of the mega auction after not being retained by the Rajasthan Royals. Buttler has also played for MI in the past and was part of the Rohit Sharma-led side that won the IPL title in 2017.
Quinton de Kock: South African stumper Quinton de Kock played for MI in the IPL from 2019 to 2021, and like Buttler, he can also open the innings besides keeping the wickets. De Kock has done well for MI in the past and played a big role in the team’s back-to-back title wins in 2019 and 2020. He was not retained by LSG, and MI can go after him as well in the mega auction.
Marcus Stoinis: Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis is another player MI should target in the mega auction. Stoinis, who played for LSG in the last three seasons, can be an ideal replacement for Pollard for the Mumbai-based franchise because, like him, he can also play the role of a finisher and contribute with his medium-paced bowling as well.
Krunal Pandya: Krunal Pandya is a three-time IPL winner with MI, and the Hardik Pandya-led side should go after him in the mega auction. Apart from his spin bowling, Krunal is capable of playing match-winning knocks with the bat and is well aware of MI culture.
Washington Sundar: Washington Sundar has played for RPSG, RCB, and SRH in the past, and like Krunal, he is also a spin bowling all-rounder. Sundar is in red-hot form these days, which is why he will be on many teams’ radars.
Glenn Phillips: New Zealand all-rounder Glenn Phillips didn’t get a chance to play a single match for SRH in IPL 2024, but he will be on demand in the mega auction. Phillips is an attacking middle-order batter who can win matches with his spin bowling as well and is arguably the best fielder in the world at present times. Phillips has raised his stocks with a super show in the recently concluded Test series against India.
Trent Boult: Trent Boult is one of the best new ball bowlers in the world, and he has proved his worth with a series of good performances in the IPL for MI and Rajasthan Royals. The left-arm pacer is known for taking wickets at the start.
Josh Hazlewood: Josh Hazlewood missed the 2024 edition of the IPL due to personal reasons but will not be short of suitors in the mega auction. He is a regular member of the Australian team in all three formats of the game and will be a valuable asset to any team.
T Natarajan: MI need a quality Indian pacer who can share the workload with Jasprit Bumrah. In the last few seasons of the IPL, Natarajan has established himself as one of the best death bowlers, and for this quality, MI should try and secure his services.
Rahul Chahar: Rahul Chahar played 39 IPL matches for MI and won back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2020. Mumbai missed his presence in the last three seasons, and with not many quality spinners available in the auction, he will surely be on the shopping list of the franchise.
