Five-time Indian Premier League (IPL) winners Mumbai Indians (MI) were silent through the major part of the two-day auction but the think-tank shelled out over ₹23 crore for two particular players. On the first day, Mumbai broke the bank to pick wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan for ₹15.25 crore. The Jharkhand opener is anticipated to partner skipper Rohit Sharma at the top.
After making the most expensive purchase, the franchise splurged ₹8 crore on Day 2 to acquire an injured Jofra Archer, who will not be playing in this year’s IPL. The England paceman would form a lethal partnership with Jasprit Bumrah in future.
Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar also believes that Mumbai Indians made a lot of “compromises” to get Ishan and Archer. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that the current unit doesn’t look star-studded due to the management’s move of shelling out a major chunk of their purse on both the players.
“Jofra Archer is just a brilliantly gifted bowler and he’s done it in the IPL before. He’s your ‘super over’ bowler, in fact, there might be a fight between the two as to who will bowl the super over. But the mystery has been unravelled – why was Mumbai Indians so cautious and bailing out – because 23 crores was spent on two players – Ishan Kishan and Jofra Archer. Jofra Archer was a real suspect, who would’ve thought who would think like this,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports’ show ‘Cricket Live — IPL Auction Special’.
“That this is a guy who’s not available this season, but they knew if we bid for him now, you can get him at a very cheap price for 2023 and 2024 but half the purse spent on two players and hence the caution with the others.”
“As a result, we are not looking at a star-studded Mumbai Indians team, normally you see some big names in that team, but they made a lot of compromises to get Ishan and Jofra,” he further added.
