IPL 2025: 45 Crores In Purse! MI To Buy These Budget Picks In Mega Auction

Rohit Sharma's team might target Rickelton [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X, @MIPaltanFamily/X]Rohit Sharma's team might target Rickelton [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X, @MIPaltanFamily/X]

With each passing day, we are inching towards the IPL 2025 mega auction. The much-awaited event is all set to be held in Riyadh on November 24 and 25. Ten IPL franchises will be involved in intense bidding wars, with around 500 players set to go under the hammer. 

Regarding Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions retained their core players - Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma. Thus, they have spent 75 Crores and are left with 45 Crores before the mega auction. Although it is still a decent amount, MI's remaining purse is still pretty less as compared to their several counterparts. 

So, the Mumbai-based franchise will likely target several low-budget picks and try to fit them into their scheme of things. As the 2020 edition champions gear up for the mega auction, here are three cost-effective players they can consider buying in the marquee event. 

Ryan Rickelton

Why will MI target Ryan Rickelton in IPL 2025 auction?

  • The top-order batter from South Africa enjoyed stellar success in the SA20 2024 season. Rickelton, who slammed a scintillating ton in the tournament, brings dynamism and flexibility to the table. 
  • He is only 28 years old and can be considered as a long-term prospect by the Mumbai Indians. The swashbuckling southpaw has represented MI's sister franchise, MI Cape Town, playing some impactful knocks for them in the SA20 2024. 
  • More importantly, Ryan Rickelton can be a like-for-like replacement for Ishan Kishan, and it will certainly be a good deal, keeping his base price of only 1 Crore and recent batting exploits at the top order in mind. 

Xavier Bartlett

Why will MI target Xavier Bartlett in IPL 2025 auction?

  • Xavier Bartlett is a promising fast bowler from Australia and has showcased his incredible bowling attributes in the Big Bash League for Brisbane Heat. He has also been impressive for Australia in T20Is, particularly with the new ball. 
  • After releasing Gerald Coetzee, MI need a quality fast bowler to pair up with Jasprit Bumrah. With the likes of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Jofra Archer and Anrich Nortje likely to break the banks, MI might be interested in Xavier Bartlett, who has a base price of 75 lakhs. 

Akeal Hosein

Why will MI target Akeal Hosein in IPL 2025 auction?

  • Mumbai Indians traditionally focus on strengthening their firepower and fast bowling. However, while covering these two areas, they tend to compromise their spin department and end up buying players who turn out to be ineffective. In such a scenario, Akeal Hosein emerges as a budget pick for MI, as they don't have to spend much buying the West Indies spinner. 
  • Apart from scalping crucial wickets with his wily spin bowling, Akeal can add depth to MI's lower-order batting, something they have been missing in the last few seasons. The swashbuckling southpaw is thus a valuable asset, and considering he has a base price of 1.5 Crores, MI can buy him in the auction to bolster their spin bowling.