3 Big Players Mumbai Indians (MI) should release ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auction.
IPL 2022 Mega Auction: The five times IPL champion Mumbai Indians (MI) have been one of the most consistent sides over the last few years in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The franchise has worked really hard to fetch five IPL titles in the span of eight years under Rohit Sharma.
MI believes in the ideology of retaining their players as much as they can. Even if the players fail to put up good performances, Mumbai likes to extend its helping hand to support the cricketers.
The last season of the glamorous IPL didn’t go Mumbai way as the franchise was predominantly inconsistent with its game plan, especially in the second half of the tournament. Rohit Sharma and co finished in the league stages with seven wins from 14 matches.
Mumbai will certainly look to make some changes this time around in the squad. With the mega auction lined up ahead, the changes become inevitable, not only for them but for every other franchise as well.
Each IPL franchise can retain at most four players from its previous season squad and the remaining players will go to the auction table. With four retentions, Mumbai will have to leave out its high profile players as well.
Mumbai will have its plans that it would have chalked out by now for the coming auction. A few inconsistent players will be given an axe from the franchise. This very article will take you through the 3 Big Players Mumbai Indians should release ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auction.
3 Big Players Mumbai Indians (MI) should release ahead of the IPL 2022 Mega Auction:
Hardik Pandya:
The Baroda all-rounder Hardik Pandya is very unlikely to get a seat in Mumbai Indians (MI) retention list in the first place. Mumbai Indians have heavily relied upon the all-rounder services of Hardik, however, the past few years have not been prolific for either of them.
Owing to his recurring back and shoulder injury, Hardik has consistently expressed his powerlessness to provide his bowling services. In the recently concluded IPL, Hardik didn’t bowl a single over. In fact, the same happened in IPL 2020 as well.
Moreover, his batting potential has dipped to a larger extent. In 12 matches of IPL 2021, he only managed to score 127 runs at a strike rate of 113.39 which is way lower than his stature.
Many experts believe that Hardik’s inability to bowl is a huge concern for team India and Mumbai Indians. No franchise would love to pick Hardik purely on the basis of his batting expertise at the middle order. He will have to work harder to bring out his best bowling in the next season in order to get a handsome sum from the auction.
Chris Lynn:
Mumbai Indians (MI) purchased Chris Lynn during the IPL 2020 auctions for his base price of INR 2 Crores. The move of Mumbai Indians (MI) to pick the Aussie opener batsman was termed as a game-changer by the experts, especially after looking at his form at the BBL.
However, nothing of that sort happened as Lynn was never given a chance to play for the franchise. During the entire IPL 2020, Chris Lynn was rested which was obvious as Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma at the opening slot for Mumbai were doing a fine job.
However, IPL 2021 looked like Lynn’s year as he was given chance in the very first match. He came to open the innings alongside Rohit Sharma and even scored 49 runs. Unfortunately, Lynn was dropped from the team in the second match only and was never given chance again.
The Aussie cricketer has very few chances to get a place in the Mumbai squad once again. He can be picked at his base price again during the mega auctions, but the chances are minimalist.
Nathan Coulter-Nile:
Another Australian that comes into the list is all-rounder Nathan Coulter Nile. Mumbai Indians (MI) paid a whopping INR 8 Crores for the services of the all-rounder during the IPL 2020 season in the UAE, however, the below-average performance from the cricketer forced the franchise to let go of him at the IPL 2021 auction.
MI once again purchased Nathan Coulter Nile at the IPL 2021 auctions but at a lower price of INR 5 Crores.
Coulter-Nile’s stats are largely disappointing. In IPL 2020 and 2021, he played a total of 12 matches, in which he garnered just 29 runs and picked up 12 wickets. Most of his wickets came during the last season’s latter phase.
With two consistent failed attempts in the IPL, Coulter-Nile is not getting any good signs for him ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. The cricketer is likely to go unsold in the coming auction.
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