5 players MI must retain ahead of mega auction for IPL 2025 ft. Jasprit Bumrah 

One of the most successful franchises in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians (MI) had a season to forget in 2024. They finished the 17th edition of the tournament as the bottom-placed side with just four wins from 14 games. Nothing really worked for them as a team as they failed to put up any consistent performances.

Ahead of the tournament, Hardik Pandya was handed over the captaincy, which was indeed a massive move given how Rohit Sharma has handled the franchise over the last decade. Under his leadership, MI won five titles, but the management wanted to look ahead for the future, making Hardik the captain.

Barring a few individual flashes of brilliance in some of the games, which included a fifer from Jasprit Bumrah, centuries from Suryakumar Yadav and Rohit Sharma and some vital contributions from Tilak Varma, the rest of the squad failed to rise to the occasion, capitulating time and again under crunch situations.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged that this could be Rohit Sharma's last season with MI and if that does happen, the team management will have to form a new core ahead of the mega auctions slated for later this year.

Having said that, let us have a look at five players MI could retain ahead of the mega auction for IPL 2024.

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#5 Gerald Coetzee

Coetzee bagged 13 wickets in 10 games in 2024.

The emergence of Gerald Coetzee has been one of the brightest spots for Mumbai Indians (MI) amidst their shambolic run in the 17th edition of the tournament. After making a significant contribution for South Africa in the 50-over World Cup in 2023, Coetzee impressed all and sundry in the IPL with his sheer pace and ability to bounce out batters.

He has been hostile with the new ball and has also chipped in with crucial wickets in the middle overs. The economy rate has been a matter of concern for the speedster but taking 13 wickets in 10 matches will keep him in a very good stead ahead of the mega auctions. He is a wicket-taking option and could serve MI for a long time.

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#4 Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma was the most consistent batter from MI.

Tilak Varma, the young 21-year-old southpaw whom Rohit Sharma tipped to be a future all-format player for India not long ago was one of the talking points for the Mumbai Indians. Despite MI's struggles all through the tournament, Tilak was a consistent run-scorer and batted with responsibility.

He scored 416 runs in 13 games and had to bat under serious pressure in most of the matches. He bats according to the situation of the game and can go berserk when required, and has the ability to handle pressure which makes him one of the favorites to be retained ahead of the mega auction.

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#3 Suryakumar Yadav

SKY scored a magnificent century against SRH.

Suryakumar Yadav still remains the No. 1 T20I batter but didn't have one of those breakaway tournaments. He was injured for the first couple of matches and scored a golden duck in his return against the Delhi Capitals. He wasn't at his consistent best but when he did get going, there was no stopping SKY.

Surya scored 345 runs in 11 games, smashing 36 fours and 18 sixes in the process. Besides scoring three stroke-filled half-centuries, it was the incredible knock against Sunrisers Hyderabad which made everyone take notice.

He scored a magical century against the Sunrisers Hyderabad and displayed his wide array of strokes which was enough to prove his credentials in this format. It is highly unlikely that MI will let go of his services ahead of the mega auction.

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#2 Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya had a season to forget.

While it was a season to forget for Hardik Pandya, one shouldn't forget the fact that he still remains one of the very few IPL-winning captains. The acceptance among the players wasn't quite there in this edition but given how the Mumbai team management work, they will definitely look to give Pandya at least a couple more years to make an impact as a captain.

Pandya had a below-par season with the bat, scoring just 216 runs in 14 games. Even as a bowler, he was not even a shadow of himself during the initial phase of the tournament. However, he did get back to his old rhythm and ended the tournament with 11 wickets. Hardik will be hoping to turn it around in the next season.

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#1 Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah bagged 20 wickets in the tournament.

Now you can't look beyond Jasprit Bumrah when it comes to player retention. He should be the first player whom MI should retain and everyone knows the reason. By far the best all-format bowler in the world, Bumrah yet again showed his class and bagged 20 wickets in the competition.

While Mumbai finished as the 10th ranked side, Bumrah's figures time and again were something exemplary. It also suggests the fact that the rest of the bowling attack failed to support the master. Be it with the new ball, semi-new ball or the old ball, Bumrah's skill set is second to none.

He has been a champion bowler for MI over the years and could also be a captaincy material in the coming years if Hardik doesn't manage to get the best out of the side. Bumrah didn't play the final game against Lucknow Super Giants, which was perhaps a precautionary measure for the T20 World Cup.