Mumbai Indians (MI) owner Akash Ambani has expressed confidence in the team’s squad for the upcoming IPL 2025 season, following the mega-auction held in Jeddah on November 24 and 25. Speaking to JioCinema, Ambani shared his thoughts on the players acquired and the franchise’s strategy moving forward.
“We are very pleased with the squad we have picked and happy with all the players,” Ambani said. He also extended good wishes to former MI players who were signed by other franchises, emphasizing their continued connection to the MI family.
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Highlighting the franchise’s auction strategy, Ambani revealed that the focus was on strengthening the bowling unit. “We had four of our top seven in place already and just needed to fill a couple of slots with the right complementary players. We focused a lot on getting our bowling combination right and believe we’ve achieved that at the end of two days of auction,” he said.
Ahead of the auction, MI retained their core group of players, referred to as the “Fab Four,” including Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Suryakumar Yadav. Star pacer Jasprit Bumrah was also retained, further solidifying their lineup.
The five-time IPL champions are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 2024 season, where they finished at the bottom of the table with just four wins and ten losses under the leadership of a returning Hardik Pandya.
Trent Boult adds an invaluable skill by taking that new ball: Mumbai Indians owner Akash Ambani
Mumbai Indians (MI) owner Akash Ambani has expressed optimism about the team’s new acquisitions following the IPL 2025 mega-auction in Jeddah. Among the standout signings, New Zealand pacer Trent Boult returned to the franchise for a hefty Rs 12.50 crore, adding depth and experience to the bowling lineup.
Ambani highlighted Boult’s ability to swing the new ball as a critical asset for the team. “Trent adds an invaluable skill by taking the new ball and swinging it. We’ve been hurt by him in the last couple of years when he didn’t play for us. Having him back in the squad is a big boost,” Ambani said in an interview with JioCinema. Boult, who has taken 121 wickets in 104 IPL matches, previously played a pivotal role in MI’s successes in 2020-21 and has also represented Rajasthan Royals, Delhi Capitals, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Kolkata Knight Riders.
“Boulty and Topley we wanted because they both are left arm seamers, there is a point of difference for us. 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,” Akash Ambani was quoted by the MI Media Team.
Joining Boult is England’s left-arm pacer Reece Topley, secured by MI for Rs 75 lakh. Topley, who adds a “point of difference” to the squad with his left-arm seam bowling, was acquired without much competition after MI placed the opening bid. Ambani remarked that pairing Boult and Topley would provide the team with strategic options, particularly with their variations in pace and angle.
Mumbai Indians also addressed a long-standing concern about their spin department by signing Mitchell Santner and Allah Ghazanfar. New Zealand spinner Santner was acquired at his base price of Rs 2 crore after no competing bids emerged, while 18-year-old Afghan spinner Allah Ghazanfar was bought for Rs 4.80 crore after a bidding war with Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Ambani shared the management’s plans for using both spinners in the playing XI. “In certain venues and against certain opposition, we are imagining playing both Santner and Allah. Spin has often been cited as an area of weakness for us, and we’ve worked hard to address that this season,” he said.
Ghazanfar, a rising star in international cricket, made headlines with a six-wicket haul on his ODI debut and has claimed 12 wickets in eight ODIs. His youth and potential make him a valuable addition to MI’s spin attack.
The IPL 2025 auction marks a determined effort by Mumbai Indians to assemble a well-rounded squad after a challenging previous season. With experienced campaigners like Boult and Santner, alongside promising talent like Ghazanfar, MI aims to reassert its dominance in the upcoming season.
Mumbai Indians’ management believes these strategic acquisitions will provide the right balance and depth to compete at the highest level as they look to reclaim their winning momentum in IPL 2025.
MI Squad for IPL 2025
| Player Name | Price |
|---|---|
| Jasprit Bumrah | Retained |
| Suryakumar Yadav | Retained |
| Hardik Pandya | Retained |
| Rohit Sharma | Retained |
| Tilak Varma | Retained |
| Trent Boult | Rs. 12.50 crores |
| Naman Dhir | Rs. 5.25 crores |
| Robin Minz | Rs. 65 lakhs |
| Karn Sharma | Rs. 50 lakhs |
| Ryan Rickelton | Rs. 1 crore |
| Deepak Chahar | Rs. 9.25 crores |
| Allah Ghazanfar | Rs. 4.80 crores |
| Will Jacks | Rs. 5.25 crores |
| Ashwani Kumar | Rs. 30 lakhs |
| Mitchell Santner | Rs. 2 crores |
| Reece Topley | Rs. 75 lakhs |
| Krishnan Shrijith | Rs. 30 lakhs |
| Raj Angad Bawa | Rs. 30 lakhs |
| Satyanarayana Raju | Rs. 30 lakhs |
| Bevon Jacobs | Rs. 30 lakhs |
| Arjun Tendulkar | Rs. 30 lakhs |
| Lizaad Williams | Rs. 75 lakhs |
| Vignesh Puthur | Rs. 30 lakhs |
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