MI has found several uncut gems over the years through its exploration network.
Mumbai Indians (MI) have a habit of experimenting with new, unproven foreign talent every season. From the likes of Dewald Brevis to Marco Jansen and Kwena Maphaka, among others, MI’s scouting team over the years has earned a reputation for bringing in exciting prospects who have become overnight sensations.
The recent Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) auction was no different. During the event in Jeddah, MI surprised everyone when they bid for an unknown 22-year-old South African-born New Zealand cricketer and got him for his base price of INR 30 lakhs.
Bevon Jacobs is a relatively unknown commodity in world cricket but is expected to be the X-factor replacement for Australian batting great Tim David.
ALSO READ: Meet Bevon Jacobs: Mumbai Indians’ overseas wildcard pick for IPL 2025
How did Bevon Jacobs fall under the radar of Mumbai Indians?
For the uninitiated, Jacobs is an explosive middle-order hitter and was one of the breakout stars of Super Smash 2023-24. He played a finishing role for the Canterbury Kings, hitting 134 runs in six innings at an incredible strike rate of 188.73.
On debut against Auckland in December 2023, batting at number 7, the right-hander scored 42 runs off just 20 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes.
Jacobs also showcased his skills during the recent New Zealand winter by taking part in Australia’s Queensland T20 Max tournament, where he put in a notable performance, scoring 100 runs off just 40 balls on the final day of the competition.
MI have unearthed several hidden talents over the years through their extensive and effective scouting network and given Jacobs’ first glimpses, the five-time IPL winners certainly felt like taking a chance on the Kiwi.
Following MI’s signing, an emotional Bevon Jacobs spoke about her feelings.
He told ESPN: “Oh! They [his family] I couldn’t believe it. I think they were more surprised than I was. We were all in a state of mind this morning. [where] We just didn’t know what was happening. I woke up my dad and he panicked thinking someone was coming in (laughs). I was like ‘no, no, I just got picked up in the IPL’. So it was a very good laugh this morning. No, it was incredible.”
Where does Bevon Jacobs fit in the Mumbai Indians playing XI?
Mumbai are big on power hitters who have that long reach and that is where perhaps their scouting team identified Jacobs as a potential IPL finisher.
Like Tim David, Jacobs bats deep in the batting lineup and can slot in anywhere in the middle and lower-middle order. MI can also release him as an Impact player. He looks like a hitter who can stand up and deliver the goods and is loaded with enough power to hit the big shots with ease.
MI generally prefers a foreign player for the position and Jacobs may be asked to do the job sooner than expected.
While MI added more power hitters like Will Jacks and Naman Dhir, who are expected to get preference over Jacobs, they need to wait for their opportunity and take advantage when it comes.
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