4 players Mumbai Indians should have retained ahead of IPL 2024 auction

Mumbai Indians (MI) made the headlines on the retention window deadline day when they signed back their star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The 5-time Indian Premier League (IPL) champions have been struggling with form as they did not have their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah in the side who was sidelined due to a long-term injury with his comeback to the side the team looks formidable in the pace bowling department. 

Pandya will be coming back to the side after two years. The star all-rounder was initially retained by Gujarat Titans (GT). But after they traded Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in an all-cash deal of 17.5 crore INR and soon the announcement of Pandya was also done in an all-cash deal of 15 crore INR. The team has also released some of the players they should not have. 

The IPL mini-auction is set to take place in Dubai on December 19. This is the first instance that the auction is set to take place outside India. In the article, we will be looking at the players that Mumbai should not have released ahead of the mini-auction. 

Here are the 4 players MI should have retained

4. Cameron Green 

Cameron Green the explosive all-rounder from Australia came under the light in the previous edition of the IPL. The big Aussie all-rounder was in the eye of many franchises and got a big buy of 17.5 crore INR and was bought by Mumbai Indians (MI). The batting all-rounder did not have a big impact in the 2023 edition and failed to keep the monetary expectations. He was released chaotically by the franchise as they needed to bring in Hardik Pandya and hence he was traded to RCB in an all-cash deal. But he should not have been released as he could have a big impact in the upcoming season. 

3. Tristan Stubbs 

Tristian Stubbs another all-rounder, from South Africa joined MI as the replacement of left-arm pacer Tymal Mills in the 2022 edition. The 21-year-old wicketkeeper batter is known for his fiery batting approach. The batter has played 58 T20s and has scored 1105 runs at a strike rate of 147.72. Stubbs has also played in 16 T20Is for the Proteas and has scored 225 runs with an average of 158.45. He could have been a good investment for the side as he is young and a good wicket-keeping option as well. 

2. Hrithik Shokeen 

Hrithik Shokeen made his IPL debut in 2022. Shokeen has played 13 matches to date in his IPL career and has scored 66 runs, with an average of 22.00. With his highest IPL score being 25 runs. In the IPL Auction 2023, the Mumbai franchise bought him for a price of 20 lakh INR. The 23-year-old was bought giving support to Piyyush Chawla and the spin department of the franchise but he failed to do so eventually releasing the bowler. He was a good player to be invested as he was young and could have been a crucial member in the future for them. 

1. Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer was bought by MI in the 2022 auction though the franchise knew he would not be available in that season. He was retained by the franchise as well. But in 2023 he could have a greater impact and failed to fill in the shoes of Bumrah who was out injured, later Archer was also ruled out due to an elbow injury and was replaced by Chris Jordan. Ahead of the IPL 2024 auction the star English pacer was released by the franchise but that was a mistake as the pacer can be a lethal weapon for the others if he is full flow.