IPL 2024 Auction: Mumbai Indians (MI) to chase Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc in Mini-Auction, reckons Sanjay Manjrekar

Mumbai Indians (MI) to chase Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc in Mini-Auction: Less than a fortnight is left for the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 Auction and the preparations are underway. This time the mini-auction will be held in Dubai on December 19.

Mumbai Indians (MI) had a bittersweet outing in the auction last year. The franchise couldn't get their plans right in the IPL 2023 Auction. However, they are now believed to have corrected themselves ahead of the IPL 2024 Auction, reckons former Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar.

The five-time IPL champions have already released Jofra Archer, Jhye Richardson, Chris Jordan and Riley Meredith among others while trading expensive all-rounder Cameron Green to RCB in a complete cash deal.

MI have freed up INR 17.75 Crores of their purse value for the IPL 2024 Auction. Although the figure is not the highest among the 10 IPL teams, it would suffice Mumbai's needs, as most of their bases are already covered.

Mumbai Indians (MI) IPL 2024 Auction Strategy Decoded by Sanjay Manjrekar

"Mumbai Indians were pretty poor if I have to be brutally honest, with their auction. So they have corrected most of their mistakes (with their trades and releases). I think they might need a backup overseas bowler because they have got Jason Behrendorff, there is no Jofra Archer," Manjrekar said on Star Sports.

The former Indian cricketer feels that the upcoming auction will see many Australian players getting lucrative contracts, following their ODI World Cup 2023 victory in Ahmedabad. He added that MI may chase Pat Cummins or Mitchell Starc during the auction.

"With Australia's recent triumph (in the ODI World Cup), you will see a lot of the Australian players, especially people like Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc. So Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc could be two bowlers that Mumbai Indians would be gunning for," he added.

He mentioned that Mumbai Indians' middle order is formidable and with the addition of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, it has become even better. However, what pulls the team is their pace bowling prowesses.

"They have got a great middle order. Somebody like Tilak Varma,?or Hardik Pandya?comes in, there is Tim David as well. Pace bowling-wise, maybe a little short. So they might want to have another overseas option," he added.

Mumbai Indians (MI) Players Retained and Released IPL 2024

Retained players:?Rohit Sharma (c), Hardik Pandya (Traded) Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Dewald Brevis, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Tim David, Nehal Wadhera, Jasprit Bumrah, Shams Mulani, Piyush Chawla, Akash Madhwal, Kumar Kartikeya, Jason Behrendorff, Romario Shepherd (trade).

Released players:?Arshad Khan, Hrithik Shokeen, Raghav Goyal, Ramandeep Singh, Tristan Stubbs, Duan Jansen, Jofra Archer, Riley Meredith, Chris Jordan, Sandeep Warrier, Jhye Richardson, Cameron Green (Traded).

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