How Mumbai Indians’ talent scout work – bringing in players like Ashwani Kumar?

The Mumbai Indians (MI) have long been among the most prosperous teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), thanks in part to their precise scouting technique and on-field skill. MI’s top-notch talent scouting operation has grown over the years, continuously producing young, bright prospects who have gone on to become international cricket superstars. Other teams now have their own as a result of their approach to spotting young talents setting the standard for other organisations.

Over the years, the Mumbai Indians have made significant investments in their scouting network in addition to only purchasing players at the IPL auction. In order to find undeveloped talent with promise, this runs all year long, closely observing both domestic and international competitions. The player’s temperament and capacity for handling pressure are also assessed by the scouting team in addition to the player’s stats.

MI’s scout squad put in a lot of effort to find interesting new players for the 2025 Indian Premier League. One of their most recent acquisitions is Ashwani Kumar, who made an incredible IPL debut at the Wankhede Stadium against the Kolkata Knight Riders. With four vital wickets, the left-arm bowler won Player of the Match. Kumar gained entry into MI by using their stringent scouting methodology. The franchise purchased him for INR 30 lakh in the IPL 2025 auction after he wowed at the Sher E Punjab T20 Trophy with his death-over bowling. Having previously participated in a few domestic cricket matches for Punjab, Ashwani seized his IPL opportunity.

This season, Kerala’s Vignesh Puthur, a left-arm wrist-spinner who made his debut by taking three wickets against the Chennai Super Kings, has also shown promise. Experts praised his effort since it was exceptional, even though the squad lost the game. It was former India pacer TA Sekar who first noticed Puthur. Even though he had never played domestic cricket for Kerala, his skill was evident during the trials, and he was offered an IPL contract worth INR 30 lakh. After impressing the MI think tank with his skills, Vignesh was flown to South Africa to refine his skills with MI Cape Town hitters.

In the meantime, the five-time winners make significant investments in overseas players. Bevon Jacobs, a middle-order batsman from New Zealand, attracted attention following his efforts in the Super Smash 2023–24. For Canterbury Kings, Jacobs demonstrated his power-hitting abilities with a strike rate of 188.73, which made him a perfect fit for the finishing position. Jacobs’s method caught the attention of John Wright, a South African native, who also suggested his name.

The Mumbai Indians’ method for finding talent

MI begins its scouting process by carefully assessing young and up-and-coming players in a number of domestic competitions, like as the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Participating in this process have been former cricket players and talent scouts Kiran More, Abey Kuruvila, TA Sekar, Parthiv Patel, and John Wright. Prior to proposing a young cricket player for trials, these professionals closely monitor the player and track their performance over several seasons.

Once a player has been identified, MI’s data team examines their performance in further detail, looking at things like mental toughness, fitness levels, bowling variations, and strike rate. The head coach, director of cricket operations, and senior players oversee the evaluation of the shortlisted players during their invitation to MI’s training camps.

The captain and owners are part of the leadership group, and their consent is required for the last stage. MI doesn’t proceed with signing a player until they have cleared all of these requirements. Throughout the years, the Mumbai team has been instrumental in launching the careers of numerous Indian cricketing greats, such as Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya.

These days, other teams like the Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals, and Chennai Super Kings have their own scouting departments and academies. Nevertheless, MI has consistently found top-tier players, unlike any other. Because of its extensive network, the presence of former international cricket players in important positions, and its data-driven approach to player analysis, MI’s scouting organisation constantly stays one step ahead of the competition.