Defending Champions Mumbai Indians (MI) were hit by a big blow when the Australian fast bowler Pat Cummins was ruled out of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) season due to a back injury.
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The fast bowler sustained the injury during the fourth test against South Africa. However, the franchise has brought in New Zealand fast bowler Adam Milne as a replacement for injured Pat Cummins.
Neither the IPL nor the franchise has made any official announcement of Milne joining the team. But Milne has already joined the MI squad and also trained with the team at the Wankhede Stadium ahead of the clash with Delhi Daredevils.
Milne is a decent T20 bowler and has played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the last couple of years. He appeared only in 5 IPL matches and remained unsold in the auction this year.
He has played in 70 T20 matches so far in his career and has picked 83 wickets at an amazing average of 23.21 and strike rate of 17.9. Moreover, his best figures in the format are 5/11 which is brilliant and has a four-wicket haul to his name as well. Hence, signing him is a clever move by the franchise.
At Mumbai, Milne will be working under his growing up idol, bowling coach Shane Bond. Milne will join the MI’s pace bowling attack which comprises Jasprit Bumrah, Mustafizur Rahman, and Mitchell McClenaghan. However, it would be difficult for Milne to find a place in playing XI.
Earlier, Jason Behrendorff was ruled out of the IPL season due to a back problem. The franchise named Mitchell McClenaghan as a replacement of Behrendorff. Pat Cummins was the second injury suffered by MI this season. Cummins was bought for a whopping price of Rs 5.2 Crores in the auction earlier this year.
