Mumbai Indians are the most successful team in the Indian Premier League (IPL). They have five IPL titles under their kitty which is the highest among all teams. Mumbai have always been one of the favourites to lift the title every season. Several famous and legendary players have donned the jersey for Mumbai Indians. A few names from these are the reason for Mumbai Indians’ popularity all over the globe.
Here, we take a look at 5 famous cricketers whose IPL career ended at Mumbai Indians
1. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as the greatest batsman of all time. He only appeared in one T20I and scored 10 runs. He was, however, one of the most ambitious batsmen in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Tendulkar was the face of the Mumbai Indians during the early seasons of the IPL, and his presence drew numerous fans to the team.
Tendulkar was a part of the league until 2013 when he won the first IPL trophy with the Mumbai Indians. Tendulkar’s last ball in the IPL was sent over to long-on for a six, but he injured himself in the process. After that, he was injured and did not recover in time to play another game for Mumbai Indians.
Tendulkar featured in 78 IPL matches and scored 2334 runs. He had a strike rate of 119.82 and an average of 33.83. He also has an IPL century when he scored 100* off 66 balls against Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011 to become the first captain to score a century in the tournament. His most notable season came in 2010 when he scored over 600 runs to grab the orange cap and guide MI towards finals.
2. Ricky Ponting
Ricky Ponting was appointed as the captain of Mumbai Indians for IPL 2013. Ponting was nearing the end of his illustrious career at that time. The player had a disastrous outing, scoring only 52 runs in six innings. Ponting stepped down as captain to allow a way for Rohit Sharma, and he announced his retirement immediately.
In 2014, Ponting was retained as an advisor for MI before being named head coach for the 2015 edition. Ponting guided MI to their second IPL title in 2015 under his supervision. He coached the Mumbai Indians until 2016 when he was replaced by Mahela Jayawardene.
Ponting is currently the Delhi Capitals’ head coach.
3. Lasith Malinga
Lasith Malinga is the all-time top wicket-taker in the Indian Premier League for the Mumbai Indians. Malinga has 170 wickets in 122 games, and his efforts with the ball have been instrumental in Mumbai Indians winning four of their five titles. He is considered as a MI veteran.
In the 2011 IPL, Malinga had his most fruitful season ever, earning the Purple Cap after taking 28 wickets in 16 matches for MI at a meagre economy rate of 5.95.
In the 2019 IPL, Malinga defied all odds to produce the ideal slower delivery in the final ball of the final against Chennai Super Kings, as Mumbai Indians won the title in thrilling style. He was a part of the 2020 IPL but missed out due to personal reasons and soon after that Malinga announced his retirement from franchise cricket.
4. Sanath Jayasuriya
Sanath Jayasuriya was one of the prominent players acquired by the Mumbai Indians ahead of the inaugural IPL season. He played three seasons for MI before retiring from the IPL. From 2008 to 2010, Jayasuriya was the opening partner of Sachin Tendulkar with the Mumbai Indians.
Jayasuriya’s first century for MI and his IPL career came in the first season itself when he smashed 114* off just 48 deliveries. In IPL 2008, Jayasuriya finished with 518 runs at a strike rate of 167.63. His strike rate dropped to 115 the next season, and his results deteriorated. In addition, in IPL 2009, he only managed to score 221 runs. Before announcing retirement from IPL in 2010, he played four matches and scored 33 runs.
5. Yuvraj Singh
Yuvraj Singh was roped in by Mumbai Indians for the 2019 season at the base price of two crores. However, he only appeared in four matches for MI, scoring 98 runs at an average of 24.50, including a half-century. The Mumbai Indians won the title that season, defeating CSK in a last-ball thriller. But after that, Yuvraj Singh announced his retirement from IPL and the international circuit.
In 132 matches in IPL, Yuvraj scored 2750 runs and picked up 36 wickets. He is the only player in IPL to record two hat-tricks which is his most notable achievement.
