Mumbai Indians are considered one of the most successful franchise in the IPL, along with Chennai Super Kings. Why not? The team have five IPL trophies in their cabinet, primarily due to one reason, having a power-packed, star-studded lineup that always helps the camp get on the mark. In the past, players like Sachin Tendulkar and Lasith Malinga have played for this franchise and delivered outstanding performances. Currently, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah also play for the franchise.
However, just like any other franchise, MI has made a few blunders where they had some big star players, but those names failed to deliver for the team. Who are the big names that made it into the lineup but failed miserably? Here is a list of three top-quality cricketers who came into the franchise but didn’t perform well.
Worst picks by MI in IPL
Yuvraj Singh
India’s one of the greatest all-time champions, all-rounder Yuvraj Singh, was once picked by Mumbai Indians at a base price of Rs 1 crore. His inclusion in the camp came after going unsold in the first round of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2019 auction. MI trusted his capabilities, but it turned out to be a wrong pick for the team, as Yuvraj only played four matches and scored just 98 runs, which included one fifty. These are Yuvraj Singh’s stats for MI in 2019. Although MI won that tournament, beating CSK in the finals, this southpaw was ultimately came out to be a poor choice for them.
Ricky Ponting
Everyone knows how much of a champion this Australian legend is when it comes to international captaincy or magic with the bat. Ricky Ponting is a legend of the game, but his IPL career didn’t see the same success. MI picked Ponting in 2013 at a price of Rs 2.2 crore. Ricky made his debut for KKR in 2008, and for MI, he not only played but also captained the team. However, he failed to replicate the success he had on the international stage, and as a result, the legend had to hand over the captaincy to Rohit Sharma in the same season. With the bat, he made just 52 runs in 5 games, which doesn’t suit his caliber.
Jofra Archer
Now, let’s talk about England’s Jofra Archer, who was signed by the Mumbai Indians franchise in the IPL 2022 auction at the hefty price of Rs 8 crore. However, the money he received could not translate into bowling. For MI, it turned out to be a big mistake, knowing that Archer might leave the franchise in the middle of the season. Despite this concern, MI got tempted due to his performances for Rajasthan Royals in the past and bought him. Unfortunately, Archer was not available to play in the IPL 2022 as he pulled himself out due to an elbow injury. Since his absence over the past 3-4 seasons, he was released in the IPL 2024 auction.
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