IPL 2020 Auction | Mumbai Indians - Dream, Realistic, Wildcard and Suggested Buys

ByAakash Sivasubramaniam, SportsCafe Editor

12/16/2019

Realistically, the Mumbai Indians side need only a few dream signings, a few suggested buy and a wildcard to win the IPL lottery. They have, in the past, assembled one of the best overall squads in the IPL, with Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah leading the batting and the bowling department.

There aren’t many franchises that can call themselves ‘successful’ across the world, with the exception of Mumbai Indians who have been on the winning side 118 times. While all they have retained the core of their 2019-winning side, they still need to fill a few gaps before they take on the field to defend their title. Rohit Sharma's side have successfully assembled the best of squads in the IPL history, with a solid Indian core in the form of Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah and the skipper himself. Talking about the foreign players, they have three-time IPL winner Kieron Pollard, Lasith Malinga and Quinton de Kock, who has won the IPL last year with the Mumbai Indians.

Missing Links

Not a lot missing in Sharma’s successful squad, with the rare exception of an explosive opener and an off-spinner in the setup. After Evin Lewis was released from the squad ahead of the 2020 edition, the Mumbai franchise will have a pool of players that they could pick to fill in his shoes to accompany Quinton de Kock at the top of the order. On the bowling front, the three-time IPL winners need a quality spinner in the cabinet in lieu with the fading form of Rahul Chahar and Krunal Pandya.

Dream Signings - Tom Banton and Aaron Finch

It is no secret that the Wankhede stadium is a batting paradise and with the opener spot up for grabs, it should not be a huge issue to find a quality opener in the auctions. While Evin Lewis tried his best to get Mumbai off the flyer, there seemed to be something missing at the top of the order and the franchise are out to fill the gap once forever.

Also, yet another English opener features on the team’s dream signing, this time the youngster Tom Banton. Banton, a newbie to the International circuit, yet the most rated opener in the English county when it comes to the T20 format. In the 20 T20 games that he has played, the Buckinghamshire born batsman has scored 647 runs, at an average of 35.94 while the strike rate crossed 150 every time he stepped on the field. Quickly, Banton’s barrage in England has got his name on the IPL Auctions list, and Mumbai would want to step up right ahead for him.

With 13.05 crores left in the purse and only two overseas slots to be filled, MI would want to go all guns blazing for the youngster, given that their scouting network is around the world. We have seen Aiden Blizzard, Evin Lewis and Glenn Maxwell all at the top of the order for the Paltans and it will be only time before we see Banton at the top.

Another option and a more experienced one if I could say is Australia’s, Aaron Finch. Finch, who last played for the Kings XI Punjab in the 2018 edition has not played in the IPL ever since. Last year, the Australian opted out of the auctions to focus on the World Cup but would be ready this time around as Mumbai come calling for him?

Destructive’s meaning reads, causing great and irreparable damage or in simple words - watching Finch open in T20s. A globe-trotter in the T20 format, Finch has scored 8440 runs in the 267 innings across the world at an average of 35. They would fill the gap in the already strong Mumbai team, we reckon.

Realistic Signings- Evin Lewis and Max Bryant

While we know that Lewis was not retained by the Paltans, it might very well be a ploy. The Windies opener has made a name for himself, with the ‘bat’ and more recently in the India series with his athleticism. What’s better, a batsman who could win you games with the bat or a batsman who could win you games with the bat and on the field? Such is Lewis’ impact on any team, and having already played for the Paltans, he could very well be bought at a lower price.

A realistic signing, Max ‘Buoyant’ Bryant could very well be the missing piece to the most successful franchise. Bryant, similar to Tom Banton, could come at a throw-away price for the Indians. Despite the youngster having played only 14 T20 games, his record is commendable for a newbie. First season jitters, you ask? 335 runs at an average of 27 and 150 strike rate, answers the Australian.

Further, the fact that Bryant would be well suited to the bouncy and pacy conditions at the Wankhede, his exploits at the top of the order would come in handy for Sharma and co. Bryant is one name that could get a lot of eyebrows, and Mumbai knows the best on how to get past and beyond all the eyebrows in purchasing a player.

Wildcard signing- Piyush Chawla and Yashasvi Jaiswal

Two players on either level of the spectrum of Experience-Youngster are Piyush Chawla and Yashasvi Jaiswal. The reasons for this selection are fairly obvious, Mumbai are in dire need of an experienced spinner in the side - be it in the playing XI or be it just in the squad and Piyush just ticks all those boxes perfectly.

With Chawla, not only the Indians get a choice of leg-spin, safe fielder but they also get an able batsman who could crack the white-ball into the twilight. Such a player is extremely crucial for any side, and in particular, a Mumbai side who have had issues with injuries and form. Mayank Markande, once destined to be a match-winner, slowly turned wry into a trading piece, and more so Rahul Chahar’s form has been in disarray. When off-season has been this bad for you, why would they not go and pick a Chawla, who is street-smart, knows a thing or two about containing runs, knows a lot about picking wickets (251 to be precise)!

Another pick, which is considered a wildcard signing is the youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal. The 17-year-old kid has turned a few pages, during his time on the domestic circuit. Be it playing in the iconic ‘Azad Maidan’, or watching Mumbai’s very own Sachin Tendulkar bat, the youngster has done it all. Further, he has made a name for himself to be a prolific run-scorer, ask the bowlers on the domestic circuit. Why would it be a wildcard? Jaiswal’s experience combined with the fidgety of the franchises, we could only see the youngster as an outside the box kind of option. The next big thing in World Cricket they say, will Jaiswal make history with the Indians?

SportsCafe suggests: Shams Mulani

Having had a keen eye on the Indian domestic cricket, and knowing what Shams Mulani has to offer, it makes him an excellent buy. A local, 22 years old, plays for the Mumbai team and picks up a wicket every 22nd delivery in his second season makes Mulani an interesting prospect. While Mumbai Indians already have Krunal Pandya who fits in the bill of a left-handed all-rounder, they could double up with the purchase of Mulani. Mulani knows a lot about these pitches and that kind of experience is invaluable compared to the IPL games that X, Y and Z plays elsewhere in the country. In the 22 games that he has played, he’s picked up 20 wickets and scored 79 runs in the six innings with the bat. Further, an economy rate of 6.22 on the Wankhede pitches, that is just ruckus.

13.05 crore wallet and seven places to fill, Mulani at 20 lakhs is a bargain and furthermore an asset.