"Having Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan in one film won't guarantee a hit"- Virender Sehwag calls on MI to release big names post IPL 2024
Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has called on the Mumbai Indians (MI) to release some of their big names, including Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Ishan Kishan, ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. Sehwag felt MI should only retain ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah and swashbuckling batter Suryakumar Yadav for next season.
Despite boasting a star-studded roster, MI are at the bottom of the points table with only four wins in 13 outings. Hardik Pandya took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma ahead of the 2024 IPL season but the results have gone south for him and the side.
The all-rounder has averaged under 19 with the bat and conceded over 10.50 runs an over. Rohit hasn't been much better barring his century against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) with an average of under 30 and no other 50+ scores.
Speaking to Cricbuzz ahead of MI's final game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), Sehwag used a Bollywood analogy to call out the star players of MI.
"Tell me something. Having Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan in one film won't guarantee a hit. Will it? You will have to perform, right? You need a good script. Similarly, all these big names will have to come together and perform on the ground. Rohit Sharma scored one century and MI lost. Where are the rest of the performances? said Sehwag.
He added:
"Ishan Kishan played the entire season and he couldn't last beyond the Powerplay. Only two names are certainties at this stage for MI – Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav. They will be the top two names retained. And if it then boils down to the third or fourth option, we will see."
Kishan has also endured a disappointing season with the bat, scoring 306 runs at an average of 23.53 in 13 games.
However, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah have stood out despite MI's struggles, with the former averaging over 38 at a strike rate of almost 170 and the latter picking up 20 wickets at an economy of under 6.50.
"Advice to the management would be to retain just 2 players – Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah" - Manoj Tiwary
Another former Indian batter Manoj Tiwary echoed Virender Sehwag's sentiments and felt MI should only retain Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav.
Tiwary called on the franchise to make one of the above two captain. He also felt MI should not retain Tim David or any other overseas player.
"I am also looking at Bumrah and SKY as the two players who will be retained by Mumbai Indians. No one beyond them, and no foreign players either. Tim David has not lived up to the hype. My advice to the management would be to retain just two players – Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah – and make one of the two captains. I am not keeping Rohit either because, looking at him, it appears he doesn't want to be retained," said Tiwary.
David has struggled to provide the finishing kick for MI barring the odd innings despite boasting decent numbers with an average of 30.12 and a strike rate of 158.55.
MI will finish their disappointing 2024 IPL campaign against LSG at the Wankhede Stadium on May 17.