IPL Auction 2018: Five Players Mumbai Indians Should Target

Three-time IPL winning team decided to retain Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah on the retention day. Their three choices were a no-brainer, but now, a lot of homework and exercise will come into play when they sit down to buy rest of players for the tournament.

Let’s have a look at the key players which Mumbai India might look to buy at IPL auction on January 27 and 28 –

Hashim Amla – He was once an unsold commodity in IPL, but once he was signed for an injured Shaun Marsh mid-way, Amla showed his T20 skills.

His best performance came in 2017 when he scored two centuries and scored 420 runs at an average of 60.

Mumbai Indians franchise is known for spending big bucks, and they may not shy away from handing a multi Crore deal to this player as well.

Amla also deserves to get huge bucks as he was never known to be a T20 player and he has brought about a big change, turning himself into a T20 player as well, without tinkering with his technique in Test and ODI format.

Colin Munro – Munro’s third century in T20I cricket came at the right time, just a few weeks before IPL auction. The New Zealand player is expected to fetch oodles of money on the auction day, and Mumbai Indians would hope to buy this player at any cost to partner with Hashim Amla.

This pair does look odd, but they can do wonders if given a chance. Both have nothing to prove as they have shown their exploits in T20 cricket and both are expected to emerge out as big gainers on the auction day.

Talking of Munro in particular, he has played only six IPL games, but his recent T20 blitz can see him getting more chances, at least this year.

Krunal Pandya – Just like Hardik, Krunal is also on the way of making it to the Indian team, courtesy his performance for Mumbai Indians.

The franchise could have retained him but it was probably the fear of a surge in the price of Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya which prevented MI staff from letting him go.

Mumbai Indians is expected to retain him by use of RTM card on the auction day. Krunal also deserves the promise as he has done well for the franchise. In fact, he has performed consistently in past two seasons and is expected to continue his form and association with the Mumbai based franchise.

Basil Thampi – Mumbai Indians already have one yorker specialist in the form of Jasprit Bumrah, and if Basil Thampi is also added to the squad, then it can form a lethal combination, especially in the death overs.

Thampi, who was part of the Indian team in T20I series against Sri Lanka, can bowl yorkers on demand and he can fill the boots of Lasith Malinga in Mumbai Indians, who has lost his Midas touch.

Thampi was sold to Gujarat Lions in the previous season for 85 Lakhs, but he is expected to fetch more amount in the upcoming auction. Mumbai Indians would surely look to add another young pacer in the team.

Zaheer Khan – More than just a player, Mumbai Indians can look at him as a mentor if they purchase him. Since Paras Mhambrey will not be with the side, it can be a chance for the franchise to buy back the most successful left-arm pacer India ever had.

He can perform the senior’s role very well in the franchise. He can be the mentor to the pacers like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and others which the team will buy on the auction day.

Just like we saw pacers excelling under player cum mentor Ashish Nehra in the Indian team, same can be the case in Mumbai Indians.

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