New Delhi: Mumbai Indians wanted to buy bowlers with specific skill set to complement their overall team combination that has top batters along with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, team owner Akash Ambani said after conclusion of two-day Indian Premier League’s conclusion.
Five-time champions Mumbai brought back veteran New Zealand seamer Trent Boult and won bids for English left-armer Reece Topley, India’s swing bowler Deepak Chahar and Afghanistan’s rising talent Allah Ghazanfar.
Their pace bowling attack is led by Jasprit Bumrah and they looked to add seamers who can swing the white ball under lights at their home ground of the Wankhede Stadium.
“We had four of our top seven in place already, (we) just needed to fill a couple of slots with the right complimentary players,” Ambani told Jio Cinema.
“We focused a lot in this auction on getting our bowling combination right and I think we have achieved that at the end of two days of auction.
“Boulty and Topley we wanted, because they both are left-arm seamers, there is a point of difference for us,” the team owner added.
“Of course, we’ve seen Trent in Mumbai Indians before; he adds an invaluable skill by taking that new ball and swinging it. We’ve been hurt by him the last couple of years when he has not played for us.”
Apart from the fast bowlers, Mumbai also brought in Black Caps spinner Mitchell Santner, which gives them the option of fielding two spinners as per situation.
“Every time I used to watch auction reviews, they used to say Mumbai Indians only lacks in the spin department,” he said.
“We would have loved the Indian spinners but they were too expensive. In certain venues and against certain opposition, we are imagining playing both Santner and Allah.”
Mumbai last won the tournament in 2020 and Ambani said they are eager to win for the sixth time and become its most successful team as they are currently tied with Chennai Super Kings with five titles.
“Your will to want the sixth trophy for Mumbai Indians has been driving us. We want it more than ever. If we are able to get the sixth trophy, it would almost be like the first trophy again. It’s been a long time and we hope we can deliver you a sixth trophy in the coming season,” he said.
Mumbai Indians brought back veteran New Zealand seamer Trent Boult and won bids for English left-armer Reece Topley, India’s swing bowler Deepak Chahar and Afghanistan’s rising talent Allah Ghazanfar at IPL mega auction. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
