Mumbai Indians (MI) are the most successful team in the IPL. They have won the IPL championship 5 times in the last 8 years. MI are not just a champion side they also ensure player growth. The likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Ishan Kishan, and Suryakumar Yadav have all flowered in the MI setup. The MI management post-2013 has developed a keen eye for talent. But there have been few players who have blossomed once they left MI.
StumpsandBails brings to you 5 players who did well once they left Mumbai Indians:
#5 Shreyas Gopal
Shreyas Gopal is one of the most underrated Indian domestic players. He is a utility cricketer who lets his skill do the talking. Mumbai Indians acquired Gopal in 2014 auctions. But he hardly got a game to showcase his skills. The turning point of his career came during the 2018 edition. Rajasthan Royals acquired his services and here was where he finally got game time. Gopal played 11 games during IPL 2018 and picked up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 7.61. His 4-wicket haul against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) dashed Virat Kohli’s hopes of making it into the playoffs. Gopal has scalped as many as 48 wickets in 45 games at an average of 24.23 and an economy rate of 7.85.
#4 Ambati Rayudu
Ambati Rayudu’s Indian Premier League (IPL) career began during the 2010 edition. The Mumbai Indians showed faith in Rayudu. He played as a middle-order batsman and part-time wicketkeeper till the 2017 edition. Rayudu was one of the instrumental members of MI’s title-winning run in 2013, 2015, and 2017. However, the Chennai Super Kings picked Rayudu in the mega auction in 2018. Since then, Rayudu has been a vital cog of CSK’s batting line-up. IPL 2018 proved to a breakthrough season for Rayudu as he accumulated a whopping 602 runs. This stint earned him an India call-up once again.
#3 Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal has been a key member of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team for quite a few years now. However, Chahal started his IPL career with Mumbai Indians in 2011. He represented MI for three seasons but played just one game across three seasons. RCB picked him in 2014 and since then there has been no looking back for the leg-spinner.
#2 Shikhar Dhawan
Shikhar Dhawan had started his IPL career with Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and smashes four half-centuries in the inaugural season. He represented MI in 2009 and 2010. His performance was nothing much to write about in both seasons and hence he was released before the 2011 edition. Deccan Chargers picked Dhawan in IPL 2011 and this proved to be a masterstroke as he delivered consistent match-winning performances. Dhawan played a key role in helping SRH win the title in 2016. He was the second-highest run-scorer for the team with 501 runs. Dhawan’s stint with SRH came to an end in 2019. He was traded back to Delhi Capitals. Dhawan is now the cornerstone of DC’s batting. In IPL 2020, Dhawan became the first batsman to score back-to-back hundreds in IPL.
#1 Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo started his IPL career with the Mumbai Indians. He had a middling experience with the franchise. His best performance came in 2010 when he played a key role in MI qualifying for the finals. But he was released by MI ahead of IPL 2011 auctions. Dwayne Bravo finally found his calling with the Chennai Super Kings. He joined the yellow brigade in 2011. Bravo played a pivotal role in CSK’s title-winning campaigns in 2011 and 2018. He has played a total of 140 IPL games. Bravo has scored 1490 runs at an average of 22.6 and strike-rate of 128.2. He is among the leading wicket-takers in the league. Bravo has picked up 153 wickets at an economy rate of 8.40.
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