3 Players which MI should release: Sportsrush presents before you three names which MI should release soon.

Mumbai Indians, the first franchise to win the IPL (Indian Premier League) title thrice, has been the most active team in terms of both buying and releasing players ahead of the IPL auction, which is scheduled to be held later in the year.

Apart from initiating the process by buying South Africa wicket-keeper and opening batsman Quinton de Kock, they were proactive to release a couple of players in Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman and Sri Lanka’s Akila Dananajaya.

Having won their third title in 2017, Mumbai Indians finished on the fifth place (six wins in 14 matches) in the points table last year. Perhaps, it must have been a dip in results which forced them to make these changes this year.

Ahead of the next season of the IPL, it is said that the teams can make use of the trading window till November 15 for that will be the last date for making any deal. If reports are to be believed, the IPL auction will take place on December 16 in Goa this year.

Having released a couple of players, Mumbai Indians can further release some more players. The top three who might face the axe are:

Saurabh Tiwary

The 28-year old left-hand batsman was bought by Mumbai Indians for INR 80 lakhs during the fag end of the auction last year. Tiwary wasn’t given a game throughout the season.

There is no hiding to the fact that of late Tiwary hasn’t been as good as he once was. In the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy, Tiwary had played nine matches for Jharkhand, scoring 207 runs at an average if 34.50 and a strike rate of 91.59.

In the last edition of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Tiwary had scored 134 runs in eight matches at an average of 22.33 and a strike rate of 134, numbers which tell that he has remained out of form in T20s as well.

JP Duminy

The last time Duminy scored an IPL half-century was in 2015. The South African all-rounder returned with numbers of 36 runs in six matches at an average of 36 and a strike rate of 90 in the last season of the IPL.

Also known for his all-round abilities, Duminy bowled a total of three wicket-less overs (conceding 36 runs) last season.

Duminy, 34, had represented Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League this year. In 10 matches, Duminy scored 251 runs at an average of 35.85 and a paltry strike rate of 100.80.

A shoulder injury has ruled Duminy out of cricket for an indefinite period, which might become another reason behind him being axed.

The upcoming season of the IPL is likely to be held in South Africa. Given his experience in his own country, it might become a reason for Mumbai Indians to retain him.

Kieron Pollard

The biggest reason why the Indians have not let Kieron Pollard slip away from their ranks is him being a match-winner. Irrespective of what he does throughout the season, Pollard has won the franchise a match or two on his own over the years.

In the last season of the IPL, Pollard had scored 133 runs in nine matches at an average of 19 and a strike rate of 133. Also known for being an all-rounder, Pollard didn’t bowl a single delivery last season.

A known face in T20 leagues around the world, Pollard picked up 13 wickets in 32 matches at an economy rate of 9.69 around the globe this year. It is also worth mentioning that the Indians have better bowling options than Pollard in their squad.

That being said, his below par numbers saw him playing an archetype Pollard innings in IPL 2018, 50 (23), with the help of five fours and three sixes against Kings XI Punjab at Mumbai.

Whether Mumbai Indians will be willing to spend INR 5.4 crores (money spent for buying him via the right-to-match card) for a single half-century remains the big question.

Read some of the recent Twitter reactions on Mumbai Indians below: