Mumbai Indians call up former RCB batsman Milind Kumar for trial ahead of IPL auction

The extravaganza of the Indian Premier League is set to enthrall the audience next year with its thirteenth edition. The cash-rich league has already grabbed headlines ahead of its much-awaited auction. The auction for IPL 2020 is scheduled to take place on December 19 in Kolkata. After showing the exit door to several players in the trading window, the franchises will be eyeing to fill their void in the auction.

As many as 971 players have thrown their hat in the ring for the auction. A total of 713 Indian and 258 overseas players will contest for 73 vacant spots across the eight teams. The franchises will be looking forward to adding final touches to their squad ahead of the season.

Ahead of the IPL 2020 auction, Mumbai Indians (MI) released as many as seven players from their squad. The Rohit Sharma-led side let go of the likes of Yuvraj Singh, Ben Cutting Evin Lewis, Adam Milne, Jason Behrendorff, Barinder Sran, and Pankaj Jaiswal. The defending champions have Rs 13.05 crore in their purse. Mumbai Indians must be aiming to snap up some match-winning players when they go under the hammer on December 19.

Milind Kumar is currently playing for Tripura

The franchise, which has the record of flourishing many lesser-known talents, has called up batsman Milind Kumar for trials. Currently playing for Tripura, Milind was previously with Delhi Capitals (then Delhi Daredevils) and Royal Challengers. At the start of the 2018-19 season, he had switched base from Delhi to Sikkim and it proved to be fruitful for him.

Royal Challengers Bangalore acquired his services after the 28-year-old finished the 2018-19 Ranji Trophy as the leading run-scorer. However, he didn’t get an opportunity to play any matches for the Bangalore-based franchise. Similarly, he did not feature in any match for Delhi Capitals too. The four-time champions are looking for a middle-order batsman and Milind has a good chance of getting an IPL bid, as per a report published in The Times of India.

After making his first-class debut for Delhi in 2011, Milind grabbed many eyeballs by playing an unbeaten knock of 78 against England in the practice match back in 2013. In an impressive first-class career, the right-hander has amassed 2539 runs in 37 matches at an average of 49.8 including eight tons and 10 half-centuries. The 2018-19 season was a year to remember for the 28-year-old as he gathered 1331 runs at an astonishing average of 121 including six centuries and four half-centuries. With an objective to add depth in their squad, Mumbai Indians are expected to acquire his services for the upcoming season.

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