[Watch] Akash Ambani gets up to shake hands with RCB management for not using RTM after MI acquire Will Jacks at IPL 2025 auction
In a hilarious development, Mumbai Indians (MI) owner Akash Ambani got up to shake hands with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) management for not using the Right to Match (RTM) option for Will Jacks. MI bought him after a bidding war with Punjab Kings (PBKS). The five-time champions splurged ₹5.25 crore to buy the English all-rounder.
Following the move, Akash couldn’t contain his surprise and stood up before meeting the RCB management inside the auction hall in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, November 25.
Watch the clip below:
Will Jacks made his IPL debut in the last edition of the tournament. He amassed 230 runs in eight matches at a strike rate of 175.57, including a 41-ball century and a fifty. The part-time off-spinner also bagged two wickets.
Overall, Jacks has played 191 T20s, scoring 4847 runs at a strike rate of 157.62, including four tons and 32 half-centuries.
“A hug from Virat, and then I realised what I’d done” – When Will Jacks expressed his delight at scoring maiden IPL ton with RCB
Will Jacks had expressed his delight at scoring his maiden IPL century with RCB last season. The 26-year-old said (via ESPNcricinfo):
"Obviously a big celebration, a hug from Virat [Kohli], and then I realised what I'd done. It was amazing. I just thought, 'I'm 100 not out in an IPL game - and two weeks ago, I wasn't even playing.' There's been a lot of attention since but I've loved the experience."
"Nothing's changed realistically: I've just scored some runs. I've always known I've been good enough, but to really dominate like that just lets everyone else know what I can do. But to do it with Virat, and have him hyping me up like that? It's special," he added.
Along with hard-hitting Jacks, MI have also bought some big names like Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Mitchell Santner, among others.
MI purchase so far:
Trent Boult (₹12.5 crore), Deepak Chahar (₹9.25 crore), Will Jacks (₹5.25 crore), Naman Dhir (₹5.25 crore), Allah Ghazanfar (₹4.8 crore), Mitchell Santner (₹2 crore), Ryan Rickelton (₹1 crore), Reece Topley (₹75 lakh), Robin Minz (₹65 lakh), and Karn Sharma (₹50 lakh), Ashwani Kumar (₹30 lakh).
MI retained players list:
Jasprit Bumrah (₹18 crore), Suryakumar Yadav (₹16.35 crore), Hardik Pandya (₹16.35 crore), Rohit Sharma (₹16.3 crore), and Tilak Varma (₹8 crore).