Ranking 10 Worst player releases by Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL history

Talking of IPL and not talking about Mumbai Indians is like talking about football and not talking about giant clubs such as Real Madrid and Manchester United. The defending champions are the most successful team in the history of IPL. They have won the IPL five times – 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. They have also won the Champions League twice – 2011 and 2013.

Initially, the franchise was led by the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. Now, the franchise has gained monumental success under probably the best white-ball batsman at the moment, Rohit Sharma. The reason for their success is the constant backing of their star players and scouting raw talent and giving them an opportunity to express themselves against the best players in the world. 

Mumbai Indians is one team whose retained players have shown their worth each season. Due to the formatting of the IPL wherein teams are allowed to retain only three to five players after every three to four years, teams retain only their core group. Since all players can’t be retained, they end up being in the auction pool and play for another franchise. So let’s look at the

10 worst player releases by Mumbai Indians in the history of IPL

10. Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey is one of the best fielders India has ever produced. If Manish Pandey would’ve capitalized on the opportunities at the international level, he would’ve been one of the faces of Indian cricket as he has it all – skill, looks, and fluency in the language.  Not many of the fans know that the Karnataka sensation played the inaugural IPL season for MI. 

However, he didn’t get many chances nor did he impress anyone with the few opportunities. He just scored 3 runs in 2 innings. Next year, he played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) and scored the first hundred by an Indian in the IPL i.e. 114 runs off 78 balls vs Deccan Chargers. Since then, he has been an important part of each team’s batting lineup he has played for. 

Apart from his stint at MI, he has scored 3458 runs in 138 innings at an average just below 31 and a strike rate of 121.78. Though MI has always been blessed with quality batsmen each year, he could’ve been a great top-order batsman with excellent fielding ability, a skill that was rare to find in the early days of IPL. 

9. Zaheer Khan

The best-left arm fast bowler India has ever produced, Zaheer Khan was an asset to any side he was a part of. His line and length along with his ability to swing the ball both ways was deadly for the best batsmen in the world. He was the first bowler to bowl the very famous knuckleball, so just imagine the skill and control he must’ve had. 

He was an integral part of MI from 2009-2010 wherein he picked up 21 wickets at a bowling economy of under 7.5 runs per over which is outstanding for a team’s main bowler. After that, he was again a part of RCB where he was more successful than his stint at MI. Finally, he came back to MI for a solitary season in 2014 after which his last 3 years were with the Delhi Daredevils, now Delhi Capitals. 

Apart from his stint at MI, he has picked up 76 wickets at a bowling economy of under 7.25 runs per over. The now Director of Cricket Operations for MI could’ve been their strike bowler throughout his IPL stint, but they filled Zaheer’s massive gap by signing quality left-arm foreign bowlers like Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell McClenaghan, Mustafizur Rahman, and currently have Trent Boult in the mix. This shows that MI believes in the concept of having one quality left-arm fast bowler in their ranks every time. 

8. Glenn Maxwell 

Initially, Maxwell was picked up by the Delhi Daredevils but didn’t get enough chances there, but showed glimpses of his reverse sweeps and hitting ability. As a result, he got a contract of a million dollars from MI, giving him the name of the million-dollar baby. Surprisingly, he was warming the bench despite his heavy price tag.

He played only 3 matches for MI scoring 36 runs at a strike rate of 133.33. However, he went all guns blazing in the 2013 Champions League final where he scored 37 runs off 14 balls which propelled the score to over 200. As a result, MI won their second champions league title. After that, he was sold to Kings XI Punjab, now Punjab Kings and he had one of the best seasons a player could ever have. He was the main reason why KXIP ended runners-up in the 2014 season.

However, he hadn’t been much consistent post the 2014 season until this season for the RCB under his idols – Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers. Apart from his stint in MI, he has scored 1692 runs in 86 matches at a strike rate of almost 154 – a game-changer indeed. The main reason why he wasn’t retained was an already strong Indian middle order with the power of the big Kieron Pollard. However, the big show could also be used as an opener which would’ve allowed him more balls to wreak havoc on the opposition. 

7. Robin Uthappa

The only orange cap winner in the history of IPL who has won the tournament in the same year as well (IPL 2014 with Kolkata Knight Riders), Robin Uthappa is one player who is technically sound when in full flow. He played his first season for MI in 2008 and had a decent first season. He played 14 matches and scored 320 runs at an average of 35.55 and a strike rate just below 115.

He then went to multiple franchises but has had a dream run with KKR. He has played four seasons for them and has qualified for the playoffs thrice and won once in 2014. Apart from his stint at MI, he has played 172 matches and scored 4287 runs at an average of 26.8 and a strike rate just above 130. 

He is a handy wicket-keeper and is at his best while opening the innings for his team. The boys from Bollywood, as Danny Morrison says, could’ve invested more in Uthappa which would’ve helped them in buying multiple wicket-keeper batsmen after every two three years.

6. Dwayne Smith

Dwayne Smith embodies the Calypso batting style with his high backlift, forceful pickup smashes over midwicket and square leg, booming drives through the off side, and casual swagger. To add to that, he even has a knack for breaking partnerships with his seam bowling. He was a part of MI’s 2008 IPL squad but played only 3 matches with an average season, hence wasn’t retained. 

However, he came back to the franchise in 2012 and has been one of their star players of MI’s first-ever IPL championship in 2013. Smith played 20 matches and scored 575 runs at an average just below 32 and even picked up 4 wickets. But his golden years came after leaving MI and joining Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He played for four seasons (two for CSK and two for Gujarat Lions) and scored 1528 runs at an average of over 30 and picked up 15 wickets as well.  

The only reason he wasn’t retained post the 2013 season was only 2 foreigners could’ve been retained per team and MI had already exhausted that criteria by retaining Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard. Looking back, they wouldn’t have regretted retaining the two champion players but would’ve certainly bid more for the muscular Dwayne Smith. 

5. Ajinkya Rahane

From the Dombivali suburb of Mumbai to being the vice-captain of the Indian Test team, Ajinkya Rahane has seen it all. As he kept churning runs for Mumbai in the Ranji and Duleep Trophy, it was quite obvious that Mumbai Indians would want to keep the raw talent and nourish him under stalwarts like Sachin Tendulkar and Sanath Jayasuriya. However, he didn’t have the time to remember alongside MI. 

He played 10 matches 148 runs at an average of 18.50 and strike rate just below 110. He couldn’t complain as he had got sufficient opportunities but the pressure was too much on the 20-year-old. Post his stint in MI, he was picked by Rajasthan Royals (RR) and this was exactly what he wanted. He flourished under the leadership of his idol, Rahul Dravid, and even went on to captain the franchise. 

Apart from his stint at MI, he has scored 3793 runs in 132 matches at an average just below 32.50 and a strike rate of around 125. He is a solid opener who can guide the innings and can cut loose as per the situation, ensuring a good start for the team on most occasions. He could’ve been the perfect replacement for Sachin Tendulkar post-2013 but MI didn’t have a chance to get their Mumbai gem back as the Royals absolutely adored him and never let him in another team till 2020. 

4. Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu was the crisis man for Mumbai Indians for eight long years (2010-2017). He was one player who did everything the team management asked him to do, whether it be playing in the middle order, finishing the innings, keeping wickets – call Rayudu. He is truly what we call a utility player and each team would love a player like him. 

He made some wonderful contributions wearing the blue and gold jersey. He played 114 matches and scored 2416 at an average of 25.70 and a strike rate just below 130. He even won the IPL thrice (2013, 2015, and 2017) ended as runners-up once (2010) and qualified for the playoffs thrice apart from the above seasons (2011, 2012, and 2014). These clearly show the value added by a utility player in a champion squad. 

However, he flourished in the top order under MS dhoni’s mighty CSK. He has played 52 matches and scored 1379 runs at an average of 32.83 and a strike rate over 130. After donning the yellow jersey, he has already won the IPL once in 2018 and ended up as runners-up once in 2019. Mumbai Indians would surely regret not being willing to spend more for Rayudu and letting him move to their arch-rivals for a minor INR 2.2 cr. 

3. Jos Buttler

No batsman who is as good an opener as a finisher, a quality which only Jos Buttler possesses currently. He is arguably the cleanest hitter of the cricket ball England has ever produced. He started his IPL career with MI in 2016 as their hard-hitting wicket-keeper opener. 

He played 24 matches across two seasons (2016 and 2017) and scored 527 runs at an average of 25.10 and a strike rate just below 145. However, he showed his true capability playing for RR. He has played 41 matches for them across 4 seasons scoring 1471 runs at an average of 41.17 and a strike rate touching 150. What more do you need out of an opener? 

MI would regret not bidding more for him and letting him go to RR for a steal of INR 4.4 cr. Luckily, MI traded Quinton de Kock from RCB just before the 2019 season and he has been fabulous for them. If it weren’t the case, this could’ve been the biggest blunder made by them in the history of IPL.

2. Yuzvendra Chahal 

Currently India’s best white-ball spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal started his IPL career with Mumbai Indians who grabbed him at the base price of INR 10 Lakhs in 2011 IPL and was part of the setup till the 2013 season. However, due to the Harbhajan Singh Pragyan Ojha duo, he was warming the bench for 2 whole seasons and finally made his IPL debut in the 2013 season. However, he impressed everyone in the Champions League T20 in 2011 by bowling a brilliant spell in the final against RCB ending up with outstanding match figures of 2/9 in 3 overs. 

Finally, when he came into the auction pool in 2014, RCB seized the opportunity and bought him into their ranks. Since then it’s been seven seasons wherein Yuzi Chahal has become the team’s main bowler. Despite being a spinner in a stadium like Chinnaswamy, he has a great bowling record which shows his skills and match awareness. He has played 105 matches and has taken 125 wickets at a bowling economy of less than 8 runs per over. 

His consistent performances at RCB gave him his India call and since then, he has been Virat Kohli’s go-to spinner in white-ball cricket. The only probable reason why he wasn’t retained was the presence of the stalwart Harbhajan Singh. However, Chahal is on the path of being the best Indian spinner ever in the IPL and if there’s one hole in the well-rounded MI team, then that’s spin bowling and Chahal would’ve been the ideal guy to fill it. 

1. Dwayne Bravo

Probably the best all-rounder in the history of T20 cricket, Dwayne Bravo is no doubt the champion of T20 cricket. He also holds the record of the most wickets in the T20s. During his prime, he was impeccable in all facets of the game, be it batting, bowling, or fielding. He started his IPL career with MI and had a decent run. 

He was with Mumbai Indians for 3 seasons (2008-2010). He played 30 matches and scored 457 runs at an average of 21.76 and a strike rate below 120. He also picked up 26 wickets at an economy of just over 8 runs per over. However, he too is a player who reached his full potential after donning the yellow jersey. With Bravo’s infusion in CSK, it had all aspects covered as they got a finisher, a bowler, and an excellent fielder in one player altogether.

He has played 99 matches across 9 seasons for CSK (2011-2015, 2018-present) where he has picked up 113 wickets at an economy less than 8 runs per over which is outstanding for someone who bowls 3 out of his 4 overs at the death. He has also shown his batting prowess scoring 954 runs at an average of 25.78 and strike rate above 130. If Dwayne Bravo would’ve stayed in MI, it wouldn’t have been surprising if they would’ve bagged 7 or 8 IPL titles in their kitty – such is the skill the man possesses and the balance he provides to any side.