It was no surprise that the VIVO IPL 2017 auction was an action-packed affair and despite teams having limited resources to spend, they came in with sound strategies and tried to fill their required slots. Ben Stokes, as many predicted, became the highest-paid foreign player in the history of these auctions. One thing which separates the VIVO IPL from other tournaments is the element of surprise and this year too, it was fascinating to see the inclusion of Afghanistan players for the first time while a UAE international also wrote his name in the franchise books.

We had a purse of INR 11.555 Crores, and we spent it wisely, going by the ‘buy less, buy right’ philosophy. The seven players we bought during the auction comprise a good mix of experience, youth and flamboyance. Let’s take a look at the new members of the MI camp closely.

Nicholas Pooran

Bought For: INR 30 L

Role: Wicket-keeper

Age: 21

Nationality: West Indian

A stand-out in the West Indies team of the 2014 U-19 World Cup, Nicholas Pooran has managed to keep a cool head and play aggressively since he got noticed. An outstanding innings of 143 against Australia, in the U-19 World Cup quarter-final catapulted him into the Caribbean Premier League for Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel. He later joined Barbados Tridents and made handy contributions with the bat and behind the stumps, with the gloves.

A fiery 39-ball 81 for the Tridents brought him into the reckoning for a place in the West Indian T20 squad to play Pakistan in the UAE, making his debut at the international level. With a strike rate of over 140 in T20 cricket, it was impossible to overlook such a talent and the Mumbai Indians gave him his maiden opportunity in the IPL. Pooran will look to win more hearts in India with his Caribbean flamboyance in the 2017 VIVO IPL.

Mitchell Johnson

Bought For: INR 2 Cr

Role: Bowler

Age: 35

Nationality: Australian

Here is a fast bowler who needs no introduction. He is a certified Ashes hero and his career received a second wind right after he helped us to our first IPL title, in 2013. Mitchell Johnson was first bought by us in the 2012 auction and went on to become a key player. When we won our maiden IPL title, he bagged 24 wickets in 17 matches, just behind leading wicket-takers, Dwayne Bravo (32) and James Faulkner (28).

He was then snapped up by Kings XI Punjab in the IPL 2014 Auction, before returning to the Paltan in time for this season. He returns on the backing of a fantastic run in the Big Bash League, where he picked up 13 wickets in 9 matches at an incredible economy rate of just 5.91 runs per over. Opposition batsmen, beware!

Krishnappa Gowtham

Bought For: INR 2 Cr

Role: All-Rounder

Age: 28

Nationality: Indian

Krishnappa Gowtham grabbed eyeballs in the recently concluded Ranji Trophy and finished the season with 27 wickets to his name, at an impressive bowling average of 19.51. He also had a great run in the 2016/17 Karnataka Premier League, bagging 11 wickets at an economy rate of just 5.58.

Gowtham was then selected for India A against the touring Australians where his big hits against the experienced Nathan Lyon brought him under brighter spotlight, a day before the auction. All these exploits combined well into him being picked by Mumbai Indians for the 2017 season of the VIVO IPL.

Karn Sharma

Bought For: INR 3.2 Cr

Role: All-Rounder

Age: 29

Nationality: Indian

Karn Sharma is no stranger to the VIVO IPL! He was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009, but couldn’t get an extended run in the side. He was then picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013 and impressed by picking up 11 wickets in 13 matches at an economy of just 6.60.

Sunrisers Hyderabad then kept faith in Sharma and bought him back for INR 3.75 crore in 2014. He justified the price tag as he bagged 15 wickets in 14 matches. Shortly after, he made his T20I debut against England in September. This period proved to be crucial for him as he went on to make his ODI and Test debuts within months after his T20I debut. He was with the Sunrisers till 2016 before we purchased him for INR 3.2 crores in 2017. With Harbhajan Singh alongside him, the duo could form a lethal spin combination for the Paltan in the upcoming season.

Saurabh Tiwary

Bought For: INR 30 L

Role: Batsman

Age: 27

Nationality: Indian

How can we ever forget Saurabh Tiwary’s services for Mumbai Indians? He was a vital figure in the 2010 edition, for the Paltan as he scored 419 runs, at a strike rate of 136 and managed to clear the boundary 18 times (the most by a Mumbai Indians player in the season).

Since then, Tiwary has been on the road in the IPL, representing Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2011 to 2013, Delhi Daredevils from 2014 to 2015 and then turning out for the new franchise Rising Pune Supergiant in 2016. The Paltan faithful would be hoping that he can replicate his displays from 2010 when he turns up for his second spell with us, in the VIVO IPL 2017.

Asela Gunarathna

Bought For: INR 30 L

Role: Batsman

Age: 31

Nationality: Sri Lankan

A late bloomer, the Sri Lankan Army man, Asela Gunarathna piled up several impressive seasons for Sri Lanka Army Sports Club before making his international debut at the age of 30 against Zimbabwe in a Test match in 2016. He scored a fifty in the first innings of the first Test and went on to score his maiden Test century in the second match on the same tour.

This year has been riveting for Gunarathna, who scored his maiden ODI century against South Africa at Centurion. His purple patch continued as he hit back-to-back fifties against Australia to ensure the Lankans triumphed in the 3-match T20I series in Australia. The timing of Gunarathna’s innings was impeccable, given that he was bought by Mumbai Indians, soon after these innings in the 2017 VIVO IPL auction.

Kulwant Khejroliya

Bought For: INR 10 L

Role: Bowler

Nationality: Indian

Hailing from Rajasthan, Kulwant Khejroliya is a genuine left arm quick, who can deliver the ball at searing pace. His career-jump came when he was roped in as an extra member of the squad for the Vijay Hazare National One Day Tournament.

Khejroliya may be an unknown quantity at the moment, but he has caught the eye of several selectors in the domestic circuit. With the plethora of legendary and experienced quicks in the squad, there is only one way for Khejroliya to go – upwards in his career.