Six Mumbai Indians players who have never played for other franchise in IPL
Mumbai Indians is the most successful franchise in the history of the IPL as they have won four titles in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. They have finished at the top of the table and are looking good for the playoffs this season as well. Every new player coming into the IPL has a dream of playing for the Mumbai Indians. They don’t only get to be a part of a successful franchise, but they can share the dressing room with legends like Mahela Jayewardene, Zaheer Khan, Shane Bond, and Sachin Tendulkar. Everybody doesn’t get a chance to play for the Mumbai Indians but there are six players who have played only for the men in the blue jersey. So, let’s have a look at the six Mumbai Indians players who have never played for other franchise in IPL.
6. Mitchell McClenaghan
The left-arm pacer from New Zealand hasn’t been part of any other franchise but Mumbai Indians. He has played 56 matches for MI and has taken 71 wickets in the IPL. His economy might be slightly on the higher side but he has always been a wicket-taker for Rohit Sharma and his team. MI has handled him well throughout the years and he has delivered for them. They trust him and he seems to be the ultimate team man as at the moment he might be sitting out but you can read his tweets which will cheer up all MI players. It has been a great association with Mumbai Indians for the left-arm pacer.
5. Krunal Pandya
Krunal Pandya was first picked in the IPL in 2016 just a year after his brother had shined in MI colors. MI had gone hard for him in the auction and he has justified that price tag. Even during the 2018 Mega Auction, Krunal Pandya went up till 8.8 CR but still, MI used their RTM card to get him back. He has played 68 matches for MI and has scored 986 runs and has taken 45 wickets so far. He controls those middle-overs well with his smart bowling. At the moment, it seems as if MI won’t let him go for the next 5-6 years.
4. Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya has been a part of the MI team since 2015. He was a completely unknown player when he came into the team and suddenly after a couple of good games, he came into the spotlight. MI has supported him in his tough times and he has delivered for them. He has played 78 matches for MI and has scored 1309 runs and taken 42 wickets. In this season, he is playing as a pure batsman but still has made a huge impact in a couple of games. Mumbai Indians seem to like the Pandya brothers and it seems as if they will be here for the next 5-7 years.
3. Jasprit Bumrah
Everybody must have heard the story of how John Wright picked Jasprit Bumrah after watching him bowl for Gujarat in a T20 game. It has been quite a story for Bumrah as he has gone onto become one of the top bowlers in the world. Bumrah was first picked in 2013 and since then he has been with Mumbai Indians. He has played 91 matches and recently got his 100th wicket in the IPL. He has a total of 105 wickets and is currently second on the list for the Purple Cap race. Mumbai Indians have got a gem of a bowler in Bumrah and there is no way they are letting him go in the near future.
2. Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard’s first auction was pretty famous as there was a tie-breaker for him and MI won the tie-breaker which meant Kieron Pollard to date has been part of the Mumbai Indians. In this season, he completed 150 games for MI which is a huge achievement. He has played 1616 matches for MI and scored 2973 runs at a strike-rate of 149.7. He is also captaining the side in the absence of Rohit Sharma. Pollard is one of the greats of the IPL and Mumbai Indians have played a huge role in that.
1. Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga is the most successful bowler in the history of the IPL. He didn’t play the first season and even missed a season in between but still, his wickets tally is by far the highest. Mumbai Indians have been lucky to have the best Yorker bowler the world has ever seen. He has delivered for Mumbai Indians almost every time. Even in the last IPL, he defended nine runs off the last over. He has played 122 matches for MI and has picked up 170 wickets in the IPL. He might be at the end of his career but he has given it all to the Mumbai Indians franchise.