Mumbai Indians (MI) are certainly the most successful team in the history of the Indian Premier League. Between 2013 and 2020, they won the championship 5 times in 8 seasons. Due to this astonishing run of form, MI has got the most IPL trophies.
However, the last season turned out to be a nightmare for them. After losing 10 out of their 14 matches, they finished their IPL campaign at the bottom of the table. One of the prime reasons for their failures in IPL 2022 was their ordinary squad selection. That’s why they need to be up to the mark in this aspect for this season.
In this blog, we have analyzed the players who should be released and traded by the franchise. So, let’s get started with IPL 2023 MI squad releases and retentions.
MI Released Players 2023
When a franchise doesn’t do well in a particular edition, several players get released ahead of the auction to make room for new blokes. The same is expected for Mumbai Indians before the start of the IPL 2023 auction.
Here is the list of 10 players who might be released by MI before the auction:
- Jaydev Unadkat
- Sanjay Yadav
- Hrithik Shokeen
- Akash Madhwal
- Mohd. Arshad Khan
- Murugan Ashwin
- Arjun Tendulkar
- Kumar Kartikeya Singh
- Rahul Buddhi
- Aryan Juyal
IPL 2023 MI – 5 Players Likely to be Traded
Apart from releasing the above players, MI will be eyeing to trade a few guys to strengthen their lineup. Underlying is the analysis of their likely trading options:
1. Fabian Allen 
The Caribbean all-rounder was signed by Mumbai Indians for the previous season of the IPL. His hard-hitting ability was supposed to add depth to their batting lineup, and his off-spin could have provided them with control in middle overs. However, he couldn’t fit into the side for almost the entire IPL.
He played only one game where he conceded 46 runs in his 4 overs for 1 wicket. Also, he couldn’t make any substantial contribution with the bat, and his signing didn’t add much value to the team. With the likes of Kieron Pollard and Tim David already in the squad, Allen doesn’t fit into the side as a finisher.
Also, Mumbai has Daniel Sams in their squad who is more than handy with the bat and ball. So, the chances of Fabian Allen getting into the MI 2023 IPL team in an overseas slot are slim. So, he is highly likely to be traded by his franchise before the auctions.
2. Tymal Mills
Tymal Mills used to be a popular option for franchises in T20 leagues for his express pace and deceptive slower one. MI bought him in for the 2022 edition to give themselves a reliable bowling option at the death. However, he was plundered for more than 11 runs per over in the 5 games he played.
After getting dropped from the playing XI, an injury ruled him out of the remainder of IPL 2022. In comparison, Daniel Sams had a decent IPL with the ball, and he can also hit a long ball. In his presence, Mills won’t find a place in the side.
Also, Jofra Archer is expected to join the IPL 2023 MI squad after recovering from injury. So, Mumbai Indians have 2 stronger choices for the overseas fast bowler. That’s why Mills is likely to be traded in the transfer window.
3. Basil Thampi 
The Kerala pacer was picked in the mega auction by Mumbai, but his performances didn’t match their expectations. In the 5 games he played, he took 5 wickets but at an economy rate of 9.5 runs per over. After 5 games, MI dropped him, and he couldn’t get another chance in the tournament.
Basil is one of the top performers in domestic cricket and has impressed in every season of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. These performances got him picked by MI, but his ordinary show in the previous season didn’t do him any good.
Because he was dropped after a few games, it’s evident that MI will look for a different option this year. Therefore, Basil Thampi is unlikely to get a place in Mumbai Indians 2023 team and could be traded to a different franchise.
4. Mayank Markande 
Mayank got some fame after featuring for Mumbai in the 2018 season. MI recalled him for the 2022 season by buying him in the mega auction. But, the leggie couldn’t get enough opportunities as he played just 2 games. He got just one wicket in these two outings and was not considered for selection for the rest of the competition.
On the other hand, Murugan Ashwin was given 8 games in the league, and he bagged 9 wickets at an impressive economy rate of 7.86. Considering his snub after just two games, we can expect Mayank to be traded, as Murugan is ahead of him in the race to be retained for IPL 2023 MI squad.
5. Anmolpreet Singh 
Anmolpreet has been a part of the MI squad for the last 4 editions of the IPL. But he didn’t get many chances to exhibit his batting talent. In the previous season, he sneaked into the playing XI due to an injury to Suryakumar Yadav. He couldn’t make much of those opportunities, as he scored just 13 runs in two games.
Consequently, he was dropped after SKY’s return and couldn’t get another chance. Also, MI have found a promising young talent in Tilak Verma, who will likely stay in their setup. So, Anmolpreet doesn’t seem to be fitting in their squad and is likely to be traded.
Wrap Up
After a forgettable campaign in 2022, MI will be eager to turn the tables this year. For that purpose, the first step is to release and trade some players and target some fresh talent for their IPL 2023 MI squad.
All such players are mentioned in this blog, and we have also analyzed the reasons for trading them.
