IPL: 3 Players Mumbai Indians might regret releasing

Mumbai Indians (MI) are the joint-most successful team in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL), having won five trophies in the tournament. MI are known for their top-notch auction strategy, selecting the best players out of the available pool and creating a formidable squad.

The five-time champions have invested in several unknown talents over the years, who’ve gone on to become match-winners not just for them but also for Team India. However, there have been some decisions from the MI team management that have backfired on them. Here are three players MI regret releasing from their squads:

1. Krunal Pandya 

Krunal was bought by MI for INR 2 Crore ahead of the IPL 2016, and the all-rounder became an integral part of the team immediately. He played a key role in MI’s third IPL triumph in 2017, with a player of the match performance in the final. 

MI won three titles with Krunal Pandya, including back-to-back triumphs in 2019 and 2020. However, he was released ahead of the 2022 mega auction and was picked up by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

He was later bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) ahead of the 2025 season, where he’s played a key role in their successive triumphs through constant innovations in his bowling and batting heroics.

2. Dewald Brevis

Dewald Brevis is touted as one of the rising stars of the cricket world. He was bought by MI ahead of the 2022 season for INR 3 Crore. However, after three quiet seasons, Brevis was released by Mumbai Indians (MI) after the 2024 season.

He later returned to CSK for the 2025 edition and had his best-ever performance in the IPL, scoring 225 runs from six innings. Being just 23 years old, Brevis has his whole career ahead of him and has the potential to become an all-time IPL great. Given his steady rise in recent years, MI would be regretting leaving a young star with huge potential.

3. Tim David

Tim David is rated as one of the world's fiercest hitters of the cricket ball. He was signed by the Mumbai Indians for INR 8.25 crore, seen as a long-term replacement for Kieron Pollard. However, he couldn’t live up to the reputation and was released by the franchise ahead of the 2025 season.

After being signed by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for INR 3 crore, David has gone on to become one of the best finishers in the league. He’s had a terrific last two seasons and become a vital cog in RCB's back-to-back IPL titles.

Hence, the move to release David hasn't turned out well for the five-time champions, who're still searching for a good finisher.