IPL: Best XI of Mumbai Indians’ released players who performed well for other franchises

Mumbai Indians. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Popular franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) are one of the most successful teams in franchise cricket. They have the joint-most number of Indian Premier League (IPL) titles (six) and they also won the erstwhile Champions League T20 on a couple of occasions. Over the years, the franchise has built a legacy with their players and owners showing a never-say-die attitude and an exceptional hunger to win silverware.

Mumbai have never been shy to take bold calls. They sacked Ricky Ponting midway through the IPL 2013 season and appointed Rohit Sharma at the helm. The Mumbai batter led the team to five titles in the years 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, respectively. However, ahead of the IPL 2024 season, Rohit was replaced by Hardik Pandya and the move received widespread criticism.

MI finished last in the season but they have decided to continue with Hardik at the helm in the IPL 2025. Making stern calls and backing their instincts has been one of the highlights of the MI management. While most of their decisions have paid off, there have been instances where some of their released players have gone on to do well for other teams.

Best XI of MI’s released players who did well for other IPL franchises:

1. Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Shikhar Dhawan will easily go down as one of the finest openers to have played for India in ODI cricket. He has also established himself as an IPL legend with successful stints for Surisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals before spending his last three seasons at Punjab Kings.

Also Check- IPL 2025: 5 Released CSK players who could trigger a bidding war between RCB and MI at auction

The southpaw played 18 innings for MI and scored 345 runs at an average of 19.61, registering five fifties. However, after being released by the franchise, he amassed 6,198 runs from 193 innings at an average of 36.67. He also slammed 45 half-centuries and two centuries after leaving Mumbai.

2. Quinton de Kock

Quinton de Kock. (Photo: IANS)

It would be unfair to say that Quinton de Kock didn’t do well for Mumbai Indians during his stint with the franchise. However, his performances after leaving the five-time champions have also been sensational. The southpaw is one of the most dependable overseas players in the history of the league.

De Kock played 43 innings for MI and scored 1,329 runs at an average of 34.07 and a strike rate of 131.32. The Proteas wicketkeeper-batter notched up 10 half-centuries for the Mumbai Indians. After leaving MI, de Kock has scored 901 runs from 30 innings at an average of 31.06 and a strike rate of 143.24. He has belted seven half-centuries and one century in this period.

3. Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Jos Buttler has also achieved a cult status in the IPL, mainly because of his performances for Rajasthan Royals. During his time at MI, Buttler scored 527 runs from 24 innings at an average of 25.09 and a strike rate of 145.93. He only had a solitary half-century to show for his efforts at the Mumbai-based franchise.

Also Check- IPL 2025: 3 Released Mumbai Indians players who could be in high demand at auction

However, after bidding farewell to MI, the wicketkeeper-batter has scored 3,055 runs from 82 innings at an average of 41.84 and a strike rate of 147.79, amassing 18 half-centuries and seven tons. No other overseas batter has more centuries in the IPL (seven) than Buttler.

4. Robin Uthappa

Robin Uthappa for KKR

Robin Uthappa is another batter who gave decent service to Mumbai Indians during his stay at the franchise in the inaugural season of the IPL in 2008. He scored 320 runs from 14 innings at an average of 35.55 and a strike rate of 114.69. 

After being released by the franchise, Uthappa played for teams like Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Pune Warriors India, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals, before retiring from Chennai Super Kings. The right-handed batter amassed 4,632 runs from 183 innings at an average of 27.08 and a strike rate of 131.59 after leaving MI. He won the Orange Cap in IPL 2014 and helped KKR win the title for the second time.

5. Manish Pandey

Manish Pandey. (Photo Source: IPL/BCCI)

Manish Pandey was roped in by Mumbai Indians in the first season of the IPL. He played just two innings for the franchise and scored three runs before being released ahead of the 2009 edition in South Africa where Royal Challengers Bengaluru signed him.

Also Check: IPL 2025: 3 Released Mumbai Indians players who could be in high demand at auction

Pandey went on to play 157 innings in the IPL and scored 3,847 runs at an average of 29.59 and a strike rate of 121.35. His best years in the league came for Kolkata Knight Riders and he was also the Player of the Match in the 2014 final against Punjab Kings.

6. Nitish Rana

Nitish Rana. (Photo Source: BCCI/IPL)

Nitish Rana spent three seasons at Mumbai Indians from 2015 to 2017. He played 15 innings and scored 437 runs at an average of 31.21 and a strike rate of 128.90. In the mega-auction ahead of IPL 2018, Rana’s services were acquired by KKR.

For the Shah Rukh Khan co-owned franchise, Nitish has scored 2,199 runs from 86 innings, averaging 28.19 and having a strike rate of 136.32. The left-handed batter had four half-centuries while playing for MI. However, he has scored 14 during his time at KKR.

7. Axar Patel

Axar Patel. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Axar Patel was roped in by the Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2013. However, the spin-bowling all-rounder didn’t play a single game for the franchise. 11 years later, Axar played a crucial role in India’s triumphant campaign in the T20 World Cup. Some reports suggest that he could be in line to replace Rishabh Pant as the captain of Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025.

Also Check: 5 Released RCB players who could trigger bidding war between PBKS and DC at auction

After ending his association with MI, Axar made his IPL debut for Punjab Kings before joining Delhi Capitals in 2019. The 30-year-old has played 150 IPL games and scored 1,653 runs at an average of 21.47 and a strike rate of 130.88. With the ball, he has picked up 123 wickets at 30.55.

8. Dwayne Bravo

<p>Dwayne Bravo. (Photo Source: STEPHANE DE SAKUTIN/AFP via Getty Images)</p>

Dwayne Bravo took 26 wickets from 30 innings during his stint with Mumbai Indians. He averaged 27.65 with the ball and had an economy rate of 8.20. The current KKR mentor spent the first three seasons of the IPL at Mumbai Indians before moving to Chennai Super Kings for a five-year spell. Bravo moved to Gujarat Lions for a couple of seasons before returning to the Men in Yellow ahead of IPL 2018.

After his MI release, Bravo took 157 wickets from 128 innings at an average of 23.19 and an economy rate of 8.42. He was MS Dhoni’s most reliable bowler in the death overs as he bamboozled batters with his excellent change of pace and his ability to bowl yorkers at will impressed cricket enthusiasts around the world.

9. Mohsin Khan

Mohsin Khan (Photo Source: twitter)

Mohsin Khan was picked by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2018 mega-auction. The franchise roped him in once again the mini-auctions ahead of IPL 2020 and 2021. However, the talented left-arm seamer didn’t get an opportunity to represent the franchise. His luck eventually changed for the better when he joined Lucknow Super Giants ahead of IPL 2022.

In 2022, he played nine games and took 14 wickets at an impressive average of 14.07 and an awe-inspiring economy rate of 14.07. Mohsin has struggled with injuries since then and the last two seasons haven’t been great for him. However, he is just 26 years old and can make a lot of impact in the coming years in the IPL.

10. Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzi Chahal. (Photo Source; Mumbai indians)

Mumbai Indians was the first team to sign Yuzvendra Chahal in the IPL. However, he played only one game for them in 2013. After moving to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Chahal showed his class as he bowled with a lot of heart at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium which had some of the flattest pitches to offer in the IPL. The small boundaries also intensified the challenge for the leg-spinner but he managed to deliver some scintillating performances under Virat Kohli’s leadership.

After moving to Rajasthan Royals ahead of IPL 2022, Chahal continued to be one of the most successful bowlers in the league. He has taken 205 wickets from 158 innings at an average of 22.28 and an economy rate of 7.83. Chahal is the leading wicket-taker in IPL history.

11. Ashish Nehra

Ashish Nehra. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The left-arm seamer from Delhi represented Mumbai Indians in the first season. In 14 matches, he took 12 wickets at an average of 29 and an economy rate of 7.76. He went on to play for Delhi Capitals, Pune Warriors India, Chennai Super Kings, and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Ashish Nehra took 94 wickets from 74 innings at an average of 22.84 and an economy rate of 7.85 after leaving Mumbai. The 45-year-old played his last IPL encounter on May 6, 2017, against Rising Pune Supergiant in Hyderabad.