From Jasprit Bumrah and the Pandya Brothers to the new sensation of Ashwani Kumar and Vignesh Puthur, MI scouts continue to show why the Mumbai Indians (MI) is the most successful franchise in the Indian Premier League. While other franchises go with the mindset of huge blockbuster signings, MI scouts go deep into India’s cricketing hinterland to find gems who become match-winners.
Ashwani Kumar’s Fantastic Debut: A Product of MI’s Scouting Network
On a notable night at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, 23-year-old Ashwani Kumar emerged with an electric four-wicket haul against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders, the best figures for an Indian IPL debutant. A small boy from a village near Mohali in Punjab, Ashwani’s story to MI is the product of thorough scouting that flagged him long before any headlines.
The MI Talent-Hunting Model: A Nationwide Network
Whereas most teams keep looking for players to strike it big in state-level cricket, MI scouts actively tour the country, observing remote tournaments such as the Sher-e-Punjab T20 and Kerala Cricket League, in search of raw, unknown talent.
Their efforts are overseen by a team of top-notch talent-spotters, which counts former India coach John Wright, ex-selectors Kiran More, and TA Sekhar, and experienced hands such as Zaheer Khan, RP Singh, Robin Singh, and more.
The Emergence of Vignesh Puthur: The MI Find
Vignesh Puthur, left-arm wrist-spinner from Malappuram, Kerala, made a dream debut this IPL season with a three-wicket haul against Chennai Super Kings. Unseen by Kerala selectors, MI scouts had already spotted him. Having cleared their tests and performed well in trial matches, Vignesh was dispatched to South Africa to train under MI Cape Town, where he learned from the likes of Rashid Khan.
A Systematic and Data-Driven Scouting Process
The MI scouting process is thorough and tech-driven. A WhatsApp group of scouts constantly shares clips of potential players. Once a talent is endorsed by multiple members, the player is invited to Mumbai for further trials. Successful candidates then participate in invitational tournaments and may even travel abroad with MI’s global teams.
One such example is Tilak Varma, who was tracked for three seasons before earning his MI cap. Robin Minz, a promising wicketkeeper from Jharkhand, was Recommended by former MI player Saurabh Tiwary and later signed by the franchise.
Scouts Make the Stars: MI’s Formula for Long-Term Success
Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma have publicly acknowledged the impact of the MI scouting team. “Our scouts deserve all the credit,” said Hardik, after Ashwani’s debut performance.
Rohit echoed the sentiment in a past interview, stating that the team’s superstar reputation is built on years of hard work by scouts who saw potential in players like Hardik, Krunal, Bumrah, and Axar Patel long before they became household names.
Not Just Skills – Temperament Matters Too
MI scouts don’t just look for talent. They evaluate a player’s attitude, temperament, and work ethic, gathering feedback from coaches, teammates, and umpires. The process continues over several seasons to ensure only the most promising players make it to the final shortlist.
The Backbone of MI’s Success
While Mumbai Indians might make headlines with big-name signings, it’s the relentless and meticulous work of the MI scouts that lays the foundation for their success. These unsung heroes ensure that MI always has a pipeline of young, dynamic, and match-winning players. With every rising star like Ashwani or Vignesh, the legacy of MI’s talent-scouting model only grows stronger.
ALSO READ: IPL 2025: SRH’s Kamindu Mendis Uses Both Arms In Same Over Against KKR
