Mumbai Indians (MI) have made strategic moves for the upcoming IPL season by retaining their core Indian players, showcasing a balance of loyalty and smart financial planning. The five-time champions retained top stars like Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma, and Tilak Varma for a total of INR 75 crore, leaving them with INR 45 crore to bolster their squad in the auction.
In a surprising twist, Bumrah was MI’s top pick, securing an INR 18 crore deal despite not being the captain. Former cricketer Aakash Chopra praised MI’s decision, arguing that Bumrah, currently considered the world’s top T20 bowler, could have easily commanded INR 25 crore in the open market. “If he went to the auction, any franchise would have gladly given Bumrah 25 crores,” Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.
Suryakumar Yadav, who also could have fetched a staggering price at auction, signed on for INR 16.35 crore, proving there’s no ego in the MI camp. Chopra highlighted MI’s inclusive culture, noting that despite Bumrah and Suryakumar’s star value, they have willingly stayed with the team, even without captaincy roles. MI’s retention strategy displays a cohesive and humble team spirit, showing their commitment to franchise loyalty over personal bids.
As the IPL auction approaches, MI’s carefully crafted roster keeps them in a strong position to add further talent with a sizeable remaining budget. In a market where Heinrich Klaasen’s retention for SRH reached INR 23 crore and other players like Virat Kohli and Nicholas Pooran commanded INR 21 crore, MI’s retention of Bumrah and Suryakumar seems a steal, positioning them as early favorites in the race to the IPL trophy.
With a core team that has been together for years—Rohit Sharma since 2011, Bumrah since 2013, and Suryakumar Yadav across nine IPL seasons—Mumbai Indians have prioritized experience, synergy, and value, making them a formidable force for the 2024 IPL season.
