Top 5 Indian cricketers who were scouted by Mumbai Indians before making their international debut

Mumbai Indians have been one of the most successful franchises to have played in the Indian Premier League. Up until the completion of the 18th edition, IPL 2025, they have won five titles; the joint-most alongside Chennai Super Kings. The results on the field are backed by months of beforehand planning and a forward-looking philosophy when it comes to team building.

MI have always been a franchise who have gone all-in on international superstars. However, they have also been a team who have had a knack for identifying young Indian talent with serious potential in them. Not only are these players scouted from nowhere, but they are also groomed by the franchise's expert coaching staff to eventually end up donning the India jersey in the future.

India stars scouted by MI before making their international debut

5. Krunal Pandya

Krunal Pandya was drafted in a year after his elder brother, Hardik Pandya. Although he did not really have a lot of exposure to First-Class matches or even List A games or T20 matches, MI's scouts seemed to have discovered raw ability in his all-round abilities. He was signed for INR 2 crore, a relatively high amount for an uncapped player back in the day.

He became a part of MI's powerful middle-order structure alongside Hardik and Kieron Pollard. Krunal struck at a blistering 191.12 in 2016. Although his strike rate decreased in the following edition, his performance with the ball bettered. Krunal's economy in IPL 2017 was just 6.82 in the 13 matches he played. After another vital season, he was finally called up to the T20I side to make his debut in the West Indies series.