5 players MI should release after disappointing IPL 2024 campaign ft. Tim David
The Mumbai Indians (MI) lost their final league game against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and finished last in the points table in the IPL 2024. MI never got started in the tournament and only managed to win four out of 14 matches.
Before the season started, Mumbai was seen as one of the top contenders to lift the IPL trophy. However, as soon as it was announced that Hardik Pandya would be leading the charge for the franchise, fans soon started parting ways with the MI team.
Although their individuals had occasional moments of brilliance, as a unit, the squad was never close to being ideal. With Hardik Pandya getting booed by fans, MI didn’t receive the fans’ support they would have been hoping for.
Rohit Sharma started well, but his form also dipped towards the end of the tournament. Tilak Varma and SKY were the only two batters that looked good in the middle. Meanwhile, it was Jasprit Bumrah in the bowling department who was managing most of the load.
Also, there were some selection blunders, with Akash Madhwal and Nehal Wadhera not getting enough games. Mumbai never seemed to find perfect balance, as they ended last on the points table for the second time in the last three years.
With the mega-auction set to happen next year, MI will be looking to build their time around their captain, Hardik Pandya. In this case, MI will need to make the tough decision of releasing players who have not performed up to their potential in the last few seasons. In this article, we will look at the five players Mumbai Indians should release after the disappointing 2024 campaign.
#1 Tim David
The Mumbai Indians bought Australian player Tim David in the IPL 2022 auction. In that season, he played eight games and scored 186 runs. However, his biggest task came in IPL 2023, when Kieron Pollard decided to hang up his boots. Tim David was seen as the replacement for Kieron Pollard; however, the MI player hasn't managed to live up to expectations.
In 2023, apart from the game he won against the Rajasthan Royals, he hardly managed to finish games. He scored 231 runs at an average of 25.1 in 16 games. Meanwhile, this season, with Pandya in the ranks, MI failed to find the best spot for David to bat, which affected his performance. His struggle was evident against spinners throughout the season.
With David being given enough chances to prove his worth, the Indians might need to look ahead to finding their ideal replacement for Kieron Pollard.
#2 Mohammad Nabi
Mohammad Nabi was bought by the MI franchise in a mini-auction for INR 1.5 crore. The Afghanistan player was identified as a spin-bowling all-rounder who could also be handy with the bat.
However, Nabi had a very ordinary outing throughout the season; he only scored 35 runs in the five innings at an average of 8.7. In the bowling department, Nabi only got to bowl a combined 12 overs in six innings and could pick only two wickets.
There is a high possibility that MI will release Mohammad Nabi ahead of the mega auction and acquire the services of some young players with an eye on the future.
#3 Shams Mulani
Shams Mulani was bought by the MI franchise ahead of IPL 2023 for INR 20 lakh, but he never got a chance to play that season. However, MI's struggles in the spin department and Piyush Chawla's subpar performance in the first few games paved the way for Mulani in IPL 2024.
The Mumbai player got the opportunity to play a couple of matches but couldn’t take advantage of his chances. He bowled five overs in two matches, conceded runs at an economy of 11.4, and remained wicketless. Looking at his lack of playing time and the franchise still believing in veteran Piyush Chawla, Mulani can find himself in the mega-auction.
#4 Kwena Maphaka
The young South African pace sensation Kwena Maphaka was announced as the replacement for Dilshan Madushanka for the MI franchise. Kwena had an outstanding Under-19 World Cup; however, his fortune soon changed when he debuted in the IPL.
The 18-year-old played two games in the tournament and took one wicket with an economy of 14.8. With Kwena still very young and with a lot of room for learning, MI will be keen to release him and bring in some experienced pacers for the 2025 season.
#5 Luke Wood
Another player who came in as a replacement was Luke Wood. The English pacer replaced the injured Jason Behrendorff in the MI setup, who acquired his service for INR 50 lakh.
The left-arm pacer played a couple of games and was hammered all over the park, as he was unable to make any kind of impact. In the two matches, he bowled six overs and gave away runs at an economy of 15.5.
Given Jason's great 2023 season and the fact that Wood didn't help himself with his performances and might not be playing in the IPL the next season, Behrendorff would be the top pick for MI if fit.