Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians (MI) did not have a great previous cycle despite having a strong team. Their Indian core was the best among all the teams, but they could only qualify for the playoffs once and finished last in the other two editions.

However, its strong contingent will make it difficult to choose its retentions and releases. They were packed with quality from top to bottom, and this mega auction will be tough on them.

MI could take some bold steps ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction and retain some unpopular options over the obvious ones. Let’s select three players who could be shock retentions.

Namar Dhir

MI did not have many positives in the 2024 edition but Naman Dhir managed to shine amidst the chaos around him. Although he scored only 140 runs, Naman showed his excellent range and skill, especially against pace, with a score of 180.95. The best thing about him is that he can be flexible with his batting position and bat anywhere in the middle order.

It is difficult to find too many genuine leaders at the national level, which makes it a special case. MI might have a hard time finding a spot for him in their top holds, so they may see him as an option to retain in the uncapped category. It’s an investment that pays off for years to come.

Also Read: Mumbai Indians (MI) to bowl three shocking deliveries ahead of IPL 2025 auction

team david

Tim David was bought for a whopping INR 8.25 crore in the IPL 2022 auction and created quite a stir. However, it failed to perform as per expectations and remained disappointing for most of the cycle. However, he played a difficult batting role in the lower order, which can be fickle.

Therefore, the chances of failure are higher than in any other position, and MI will be wary of finding someone new for this job. Therefore, they can stick with Tim David, whose batting is on the rise. Perhaps MI will think of him as one of the options to retain ahead of any first-choice player.

akash madhwal

Akash Madhwal was a revelation in the 2023 edition and performed exceptionally well in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. However, he could not replicate the same in the 2024 edition. Perhaps MI could have given him more opportunities as he only featured in five matches.

But there is obvious talent and Madhwal will only improve under Bumrah’s guidance. He is quick and fast and can be a long-term investment for MI that cultivates talent better than many other teams. MI may try to retain him in the uncapped category if they do not find a place in the main section.

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