MI’s 2025 IPL Auction: Key Concerns And  Strategies

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Mumbai Indians (MI) had a tough season in the 2024 IPL, finishing last in the standings. The five-time IPL champions struggled throughout the season and ended up with just one playoff appearance in this auction cycle. Despite their difficulties, MI is holding onto a solid core group, keeping Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma. As they prepare for the 2025 auction, MI has ₹45 crore in their purse along with one Right-to-Match (RTM) card.

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However, with their limited budget, MI faces some key areas they’ll need to strengthen. The competition from other teams, many with larger funds, will make this challenging. Here are three main concerns for MI heading into the IPL 2025 auction:

MI’s 2025 IPL Auction: Key Concerns And  Strategies

1. Finding a Reliable Finisher

In the previous auction cycle, MI had Tim David and Hardik Pandya as their main finishers, with Romario Shepherd occasionally taking on the role. Hardik’s role has shifted slightly, as he now focuses more on spin-hitting due to issues with certain fast deliveries. With fewer finishing options on the market, MI may need to rely heavily on their scouting team to find an effective player who can handle high-pressure situations at the end of an inning.

2. Securing a Quality Overseas Fast Bowler

MI has typically had at least one overseas fast bowler to support Jasprit Bumrah, but with only ₹45 crore, they may struggle to acquire a top overseas pacer. Last season, they tried Kwena Maphaka, Nuwan Thushara, Luke Wood, and Gerald Coetzee, but none of them fully met expectations. Given Wankhede Stadium’s favourable conditions for pace bowlers, finding an affordable, game-changing bowler will be a high priority for MI.

3. Retaining Key Uncapped Players

MI has one RTM card, which they’re likely to use on an uncapped player like Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera, or Anshul Kamboj. Dhir and Wadhera are rising batting talents with some bowling capabilities, while Kamboj is an attractive option for his powerplay performance. With other teams having larger budgets, retaining these players could be difficult, as many teams are on the lookout for promising young talent.

Overall, MI’s budget limitations make this auction a critical one. To compete with better-funded teams, they’ll need a sharp strategy, wise spending, and strong scouting to build a balanced squad for IPL 2025.

Also Read: Arjun Tendulkar Makes An Impression Before IPL Auction 2025

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