Mumbai Indians are the most successful franchise in the history of IPL. Although the franchise is known for big-name signings, they never overspent on their purchases. Only recently has the team explored other strategies at the auction. The auction dynamics also, in a way, have a part to play in MI’s recent big-money acquisitions. On that note, here, we take a look at the most expensive Mumbai Indians XI in IPL auctions.
Note: This playing XI was constituted keeping in mind expensive players purchased at the auction and also the balance of the squad.
Openers: Ishan Kishan (INR 15.25 Cr) and Rohit Sharma (INR 9.2 Cr)
Ishan Kishan was the go-to player at IPL 2022 Auctions. With most teams having retained the key Indian cricketers, Ishan was left at the auctions. He is a southpaw, a wicket-keeper and can play in the middle order, too. MI groomed the cricketer and hence, they waited and gave it their all to buy him back.
With Sachin Tendulkar getting close to the end of his career, Mumbai needed a new face. Rohit Sharma was a growing cricketer and considering he is from Mumbai, the franchise spent heavily on the cricketer in IPL 2011 Auctions. Rohit repaid the trust by winning five trophies for the outfit.
Middle-Order: Mike Hussey (INR 5 Cr) and Tim David (INR 8.25 Cr)
Mike Hussey did exceptionally well for Chennai Super Kings. After his retirement, CSK had to release him. Mumbai Indians picked the Aussie for INR 5 Cr. The southpaw could not deliver but many fans liked him in the blue-and-gold jersey.
Tim David joined MI for a big sum in IPL 2022 Auctions. A Kieron Pollard replacement was needed and the franchise rightly invested in the big-hitting finisher.
All-Rounders: Glenn Maxwell (INR 5.32 Cr), Kieron Pollard (INR 5.4 Cr), and Krunal Pandya (INR 8.8 Cr)
Glenn Maxwell was a rage back then. He was highly rated and hence, Mumbai Indians invested highly in him in IPL 2013. That season, the team also won the IPL. Hence, the investment actually did well for them.
MI could not retain Pollard before IPL 2018. Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya were undroppable. Hence, the franchise paid a big sum to get back the services of Pollard. In the same auctions, MI used the RTM card to retain the IPL 2017 final Player of the Match Krunal Pandya. For a long time, Krunal was the highest-paid cricketer by MI at an auction.
Bowlers: Jofra Archer (INR 8 Cr), Nathan Coulter-Nile (INR 8 Cr), Karn Sharma (INR 3.2 Cr) and Barinder Sran (INR 3.4 Cr)
Jofra Archer interestingly signed up for IPL 2022 Auctions despite his unavailability. MI signed him up for INR 8 Cr. The Englishman is yet to play a game for the franchise. However, he is likely to play in IPL 2023.
The rest of the signings were made by the team on a need basis. While Nathan Coulter-Nile was unexpectedly a big expenditure, the rest of the hirings were decent at that point in time. Karn was doing well as a leggie and Sran was making moves as a solid left-arm pacer. Hence, both were actually good investments when they were made. Around the INR 3 Cr mark, Mumbai also made some other notable signings for this department. Some of them are Munaf Patel and Pragyan Ojha.
