2018 IPL Auction: One player from each team who shouldn't be retained via RTM

Mumbai Indians: Lasith Malinga

Mumbai Indians were wise to retain three of their local core players, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya ahead of the 2018 IPL. After retaining three Indian players, the MI think-tank are left with two RTM cards and are allowed to use them for overseas players alone.

In all likelihood, they will use the two RTMs on two players among Jos Buttler, Kieron Pollard (likely ones) and Mitchell McClenaghan. They should not look beyond these names as Pollard has been instrumental for Mumbai since joining them in 2010 and Buttler, along with McClenaghan, was doing a good job over the last couple of seasons.

West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons could be their darkhorse.

The franchise should make sure that they don't retain Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga in the auction. Over the last couple of years, the slinger has been finding it difficult to replicate his success from the past and has been leaking a lot of runs.

With Malinga approaching 35 and Jasprit Bumrah breathing fire, there are better options available for Rohit Sharma and co. in the auction even if they let the Lankan go ahead of next season.