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Hrithik Shokeen (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)
Mumbai Indians (MI) concluded their journey in the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) in the playoffs, losing to Gujarat Titans (GT) by 62 runs in the second qualifier played at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium. After another disappointing season, MI will look to rebuild their team in the auction in Dubai, to win the sixth title in 2024.
On November 26, MI submitted their release list along with nine other franchises. The Mumbai-based outlet got rid of 11 players and among those names, some might attract Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). After releasing star players Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Harshal Patel, Challengers will look to make some great purchases in the 2024 IPL auction in Dubai.
Here are the 3 MI-released players RCB could target in the IPL 2024 auction:
3. Hrithik Shokeen
Hrithik Shokeen looked completely out of rhythm in the 2023 IPL, picking up only three wickets in eight matches at an expensive economy of 9.84. The off-spinner’s responsibility was to support his senior colleague Piyush Chawla to reinforce MI’s spin-bowling unit but he couldn’t do so and eventually got excluded from Mumbai’s retention chart for the 2024 IPL.
Shokeen can be followed by RCB in the upcoming auction as Challengers don’t have a quality spinner in their squad after releasing Hasaranga. Shokeen exuded confidence with the ball for Delhi in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2023-24. Grabbing three wickets in two matches at an economy of 5.68, he played his part efficiently in the competition.
2. Jhye Richardson
Jhye Richardson couldn’t participate in the previous edition of the league, due to a hamstring injury. The Australia pacer was expected to appear for Mumbai in the 2023 IPL but unfortunately, the injury proved detrimental for him. Recently, his name showed up in MI’s release list and now, he will go under the hammer in the 2024 IPL auction.
The Aussie pacer has played a lot of cricket in his country’s Big Bash League (BBL) and his experience might get him a contract in the upcoming auction. In his eight-year BBL career, he has bagged 88 wickets in 62 matches at an economy of 7.57.
RCB have released their experienced pacer from the squad and now, they might be seen targeting Richardson in the auction. In October 2023, he made a comeback in the Marsh Cup for his domestic side Western Australia, and exuded confidence with his bowling performance in the T20 tournament and Sheffield Shield.
1. Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer was sold to MI for INR 8 crore in the 2022 IPL auction. After missing the 15th IPL edition, he appeared for Mumbai in 2023 but didn’t provide effective numbers with the ball. In five matches, he took only two wickets at an expensive economy of 9.50. Noting his below-par performance, MI released the speedster recently.
Archer hasn’t played competitive cricket after the 2023 IPL, due to his fitness issue but despite knowing the fact, some franchises might show interest in him in the upcoming auction. Challengers parted ways with Josh Hazlewood before the auction and the RCB team management might fetch him at the business event to fill the Aussie pacer’s shoes.
