IPL 2023 Auction: Five players Mumbai Indians should look to buy in auction

Five-time champions Mumbai Indians have had back-to-back disappointing seasons in the Indian Premier League and released 12 players ahead of the IPL 2023 Auction. The Rohit Sharma-led side didn't retain several top overseas players from the squad as they didn't have a memorable performance in IPL 2022.

The Team will also be without their star all-rounder Kieron Pollard for the first time in a decade. Pollard - who has been the backbone of MI for years - has retired from the tournament and will be donning the coach's hat from the next season for his franchise. Team management needs to find his replacement in the middle order who can also be a long-term prospect.

Tough calls from Mumbai Indians

In a major rejig ahead of the IPL Auction 2023, the team management let go of several players, international and domestic. Coach Mahela Jayawardene would be looking to buy some young and dynamic players who can be a part of the set-up for a long period of time.

MI Squad before IPL auction

Rohit Sharma (captain), Tim David, Ramandeep Singh, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Jofra Archer, Jasprit Bumrah, Arjun Tendulkar, Arshad Khan, Kumar Kartikeya, Hrithik Shokeen, Jason Behrendorff, Akash Madhwal.

Players Released by MI

Kieron Pollard, Anmolpreet Singh, Aryan Juyal, Basil Thampi, Daniel Sams, Fabian Allen, Jaydev Unadkat, Mayank Markande, Murugan Ashwin, Rahul Buddhi, Riley Meredith, Sanjay Yadav, Tymal Mills.

MI Remaining Purse for IPL 2023 Auction: Rs 20.55 crore

MI Remaining Slots: 9 players max, including 3 overseas players

With a decent budget in their bank ahead of the auction, Mumbai Indians can fine-tune their squad and make some smart buys at the auction table. They can even go for some of the big names doing the rounds ahead of the auction with enough money in the bank.

Let us take a look at 5 players who Mumbai Indians will target at the IPL 2023 Auction:

1. Cameron Green

The Australia all-rounder could be a valuable addition to the squad for he can contribute both with the bat, as well as with the ball. The right-handed batter and right-arm pacer could be a successor to Kieron Pollard - who will now be performing the batting coach's duty for the franchise. Pollard played a vital role in MI's all five successful IPL campaigns and Mumbai will need a hard-hitting batter like Pollard.

Although they have someone like Tim David, who could be a potential successor for Pollard, but Green will add more depth to Mumbai's batting lineup. He can also be a long-term prospect for the side and serve the franchise for at least 4-5 seasons, should he proves his mettle in his debut season.

Green has a decent strike rate of 137 in 21 T20s but in 8 T20Is his strike rate is a whopping 173.75 with the bat as he set the stage on fire during the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia.

Ideal Price: Rs 6-8 crore

2. Tabraiz Shamsi

The five-time champions can go for a senior South Africa spinner. The left-arm tweaker can help them succeed on the slow Wankhede pitch where Mumbai Indians will play all their home games.

The Wankhede pitch always has something to offer to the spinners and a player of Shamsi's calibre can just exploit the conditions well. The short ground dimensions in Wankhede often test the mental strength of slow-ball bowlers in T20s under dew conditions.

Shamsi is a big-hearted bowler and never shies away from tossing the ball up and forces the batter to go for a big heave and eventually picks up wickets.

Ideal Price: Rs 2-3 Crore

3. Tushar Deshpande

The right-arm pacer from Mumbai was the third-leading wicket-taker in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 2022. Deshpande has played for Delhi Capitals and Chennai Super Kings in the past seasons and has always looked to improve his game.

Mumbai Indians can go after this local boy and include him in the squad for he understands the Wankhede Stadium pitch well. Deshpande would be available at a reasonable price for Mumbai Indians.

Ideal Price: Rs 2-3 Crore

4. Wayne Parnell

The left-arm pacer from South Africa could offer support to Mumbai Indians' pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Jofra Archer and Jason Behrendorff.

As there is still no clarity on Archer's fitness and availability, Parnell could be a good addition to the side. He generates a decent pace and also bowls tight lines which are hard to play.

The vastly experienced Parnell - who has played 245 T20s and picked up 247 wickets - can be a good batter lower down the order as well.

Ideal Price: Rs 2 crore

5. Sam Curran

The 22-year-old England all-rounder was the player of the final as well as the player of the tournament in the T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. The left-arm pacer didn't participate in last year's IPL auction due to injury but he's fit to go in the next edition of the lucrative league.

Sam Curran's stature in world cricket has grown rapidly and the youngster from England will be one of the most sought-after players in the upcoming IPL 2023 Auction. Curran would be on the radar of several teams, including Mumbai Indians, for he is a truly three-dimensional player.

His performance for Chennai Super Kings in the previous editions has been remarkable and Mumbai might face stiff competition from their old rivals to get him.

Ideal Price: Rs 6-8 crore