'I would consider releasing two bowlers' - Former CSK star's interesting suggestion to Mumbai Indians
"Mumbai Indians have a very balanced playing eleven, but they face some tough decisions," Matthew Hayden opined.
Former Australia and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) opener Matthew Hayden opined that the Mumbai Indians could consider releasing fast bowlers Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar from the squad and re-signing them for a lesser amount at the mini auction next month.
According to Hayden, this strategy could help Mumbai free up funds to bolster its bench strength with quality backups. The five-time champions made it to the playoffs last season, where they were beaten by the Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2.
"Mumbai Indians have a very balanced playing eleven, but they face some tough decisions. Trent Boult has been exceptional, taking 22 wickets last season and making a strong impact in the powerplay. However, with a 12.5 crore price tag, the management might consider releasing him, potentially allowing them to buy him back at a lower price. This move could free up funds to strengthen other areas of their squad while maintaining their core balance," Hayden said while speaking on JioStar's IPL 2026 'Retention Preview'
"Mumbai Indians are five-time champions for a reason; they have a great mix of young talent. However, they need to address their backup players. If I were in their camp, I would consider releasing two bowlers: Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar. Releasing and potentially buying them back could free up funds to strengthen their bench strength with quality backups," he concluded.
Boult had an excellent season with the ball, picking up 22 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 23.50. The New Zealand pacer took wickets with the new ball, giving Mumbai some fantastic starts.
Chahar, however, had a forgettable season, bagging just 11 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 34.18 and an economy rate of 9.17. He also sustained an injury towards the back end of the tournament and missed the Eliminator as well as Qualifier 2.
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The deadline for announcing retentions is November 15. Meanwhile, the auction is reportedly set to be held on December 15 or 16.
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