How should Mumbai Indians approach IPL 2020 Auction?

Defending champions Mumbai Indians have been the most successful team in the IPL with four trophies. Very much like arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai believe in keeping the core of the team intact. In all the four victorious campaigns, the core of the team was more or less the same. As they had to IPL […]
 
?width=963&height=541&resizemode=4
How should Mumbai Indians approach IPL 2020 Auction?

Defending champions Mumbai Indians have been the most successful team in the IPL with four trophies. Very much like arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai believe in keeping the core of the team intact. In all the four victorious campaigns, the core of the team was more or less the same. As they had to IPL 2020 auctions, MI will have a clear idea of what they need.

They have maintained the same strategy this time too. The trades to get in Trent Boult and Dhawal Kulkarni seemed very tactical. Jason Behrendorff’s injury made them look for an alternative for the left-arm pacer and who would have fit in the role better than Boult. Kulkarni’s inclusion was made to buff up the Indian pace contingent. Also, the emergence of Rahul Chahar allowed them to let go Mayank Markande.

Mumbai Indians made 10 releases, none of which was unexpected. Big names like Yuvraj Singh, Evin Lewis and Ben Cutting were released as they found it hard to fit in the scheme of things.

List of retained and released players:

Squad: Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Kieran Pollard, Quinton de Kock, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga, Krunal Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Anmolpreet Singh, Trent Boult (Transferred), Rahul Chahar, Ishan Kishan, Anukul Roy, Dhawal Kulkarni (Transferred), Aditya Tare, Sherfane Rutherford (Transferred), Jayant Yadav

Released: Yuvraj Singh, Evin Lewis, Adam Milne, Jason Behrendorff, Barinder Sran, Ben Cutting, Alzarri Joseph, Beuran Hendricks, Rasikh Salam and Pankaj Jaiswal

How should Mumbai Indians approach IPL 2020 Auction?

Here we take a deep dive into how Mumbai Indians should approach the auctions, analyzing possible strategies and identifying potential candidates they could look out for:

Available Slots: 7 (two overseas)

Purse remaining: Rs 13.05 cr

Areas of concern:

Mumbai Indians have most got most of their bases covered. The playing XI looks quite formidable from the list of retained players. The major focus will be on improving the bench strength, especially in the batting department. With the release of Yuvraj, Lewis and Cutting and trade of Siddhesh Lad, Mumbai will look to get some better options with the bat who can come in handy when someone from the playing XI gets injured.

The bowling department looks quite strong but they might look to get in a few backups in the IPL 2020 auctions. Overall, Mumbai seem to be one of the only few teams to go into the auctions with no major gaps to fill in.

Probable buys:

Mumbai Indians management were in talks with Tom Banton, and hence might go for the Somerset opener in the auctions. A few middle order power-hitters like Colin de Grandhomme and Shimron Hetmeyer might also get some attention.

Mumbai have the knack of unearthing a unknown domestic talent almost every single year. So expect them to go for a few domestic players who have not been heard of enough.

Going into the auction with the lowest purse remaining, the defending champions will probably be having a couple of guys in their radar, who they will go all out for.