Brad Hogg
Brad Hogg. Image-Twitter

Last Update on: February 15th, 2022 at 06:23 pm

Former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has slammed the Mumbai Indians (MI) bidding strategy in the recently held IPL 2022 auction in Bengaluru on February 12 and 13. He was particularly hard on MI spending a whopping INR 8 crores to buy Jofra Archer’s services.

The Rohit Sharma-led and Mukesh Ambani-owned franchise made only one significant buy on the opening day of the mega auction in Bengaluru last weekend, buying back Ishan Kishan for INR 15.25 crore and ended the day with his just four purchases.

However, the five-time IPL champions came into their own on the second day, as they went hard for Jofra Archer, securing him after a bidding war with Rajasthan Royals and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Interestingly, won’t be available for the IPL 2022 season and has had two elbow surgeries in the last 18 months. He will play from IPL 2023 onwards.

Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer (Image Credit: Twitter)

“Spending INR 8 Cr on Archer is a huge risk, especially after spending 15 crore on Ishan Kishan. He’s had two elbow surgeries in the last 18 months, that’s the worst injury a fast bowler could have. They have a formidable top order in Rohit, Kishan and Surya and then David at No.4, which is also a risk. Who’s going to bat at No.5 is the big question,” Brad Hogg said on his YouTube channel.

The Bowling Department Is Where Their Headache Starts: Brad Hogg On Mumbai Indians

The Mumbai Indians also added Tim David, Tymal Mills, and Daniel Sams to their squad on the second day of the auction. However, Hogg is unhappy with the five-time IPL winners’ bowling department and also that they require a finisher.

Nita Ambani, Akash Ambani, Mumbai Indians
Nita Ambani, and Akash Ambani. Image Credits: BCCI

“The bowling department is where their headache starts. They don’t have depth in their bowling and not many top class spinners. They also don’t have finishers like the Pandya brothers. This is one of the worst auctions MI has ever had,” he added.

Mumbai Indians bought 21 players over the two days of the mega event, hence forming a 25-member squad, having earlier retained captain Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, all-rounder Kieron Pollard and fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah.

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