2018 IPL auction: 5 players Mumbai Indians should not retain
Last week, the IPL governing council (GC) announced the retention policies and the revised salary caps ahead of the 2018 IPL auction.
As per the governing council's decision, a franchisee can retain five players using one of the two combinations - three pre-auction retentions and two RTMs or two pre-auction retentions and three RTMs. Either way, a franchise can retain or use RTM for a maximum of three players in the auction. Moreover, if a franchise doesn't retain even a single player before the auction, they still can't use more than three RTMs.
Also read: 2018 IPL Auction: What do pre-auction retention and RTM card mean?
The most successful IPL franchise, Mumbai Indians, always wanted to retain their core that was a part of all their three title triumphs. In all likelihood, the franchisee will retain five players out of Rohit Sharma, pacer Jasprit Bumrah, the Pandya brothers, Jos Buttler and Kieron Pollard.
At the same time, their think-tank will have some names who they won't retain. Let us take a look at five high-profile players the defending champions should not retain ahead of 2018 IPL.
Vinay Kumar
Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma is the only player to have won four IPL titles but there are a few players who have won three IPL titles. The likes of Yusuf Pathan, Lasith Malinga, Ambati Rayudu, Harbhajan Singh etc. are a part of the elite list. One name that features in the list is Vinay Kumar.
Vinay Kumar was a part of the successful Kolkata Knight Riders team in 2014, Mumbai Indians in 2015 and 2017. The Karnataka pacer has been a prolific bowler in the Indian domestic circuit but for some reason, he hasn't been able to replicate the success in the international circuit.
Being a part of Mumbai in 2017, Vinay played just one match for them, their inconsequential league game against Kolkata Knight Riders. He was overlooked for the remaining games and with age not on his side and the presence of better domestic T20 pacers, it will be surprising if he is retained or brought back by the franchise ahead of the 2018 IPL.