Mumbai Indians Urged to Release Star Players Ahead of IPL 2025 Mega Auction

Mumbai Indians Face Overhaul: Sehwag Calls for Release of Star Players

Former Indian opener Virender Sehwag has urged the Mumbai Indians (MI) to release several star players, including Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Ishan Kishan, ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Sehwag believes MI should prioritize retaining only Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav for the upcoming season.

Despite boasting a star-studded lineup, MI has struggled in IPL 2024, languishing at the bottom of the points table with just four wins from 13 games. Hardik Pandya took over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma before the season, but the results have been disappointing.

Speaking on Cricbuzz, Sehwag emphasized the importance of performance over star power. He compared MI's situation to a Bollywood film, stating that having big names alone does not guarantee success. "You need a good script. Similarly, all these big names will have to come together and perform on the ground," he said.

Sehwag questioned the contributions of MI's star players, highlighting Rohit Sharma's solitary century and Ishan Kishan's struggles in the Powerplay. He believes only Bumrah and Yadav have consistently performed for the team.

Another former Indian batter, Manoj Tiwary, echoed Sehwag's sentiments, suggesting that MI should retain only Bumrah and Yadav. He also recommended appointing one of them as captain for the next season. Tiwary advised against retaining any overseas players, including Tim David.

"I am also looking at Bumrah and SKY as the two players who will be retained by Mumbai Indians. No one beyond them, and no foreign players either. Tim David has not lived up to the hype," said Tiwary.

Sehwag and Tiwary's comments highlight the need for MI to reassess its strategy and focus on building a team that can consistently perform. The upcoming mega auction provides an opportunity for the franchise to make significant changes and rebuild for the future.

Tags: #MumbaiIndians, #IPL2025, #VirenderSehwag, #RohitSharma, #HardikPandya