You say IPL, debutants, Mumbai Indians, and you can immediately add the term ‘Impact’. They brought instant magic, entertainment, fun, and promise, and it was sheer joy watching them light up the big stage this year. 

This year, a handful of promising players made their debuts: Gerald Coetzee, Naman Dhir, Nuwan Thushara, Anshul Kamboj, Kwena Maphaka, Luke Wood and Shams Mulani - each with a unique potential to make a significant impact, filling us with hope for the future. 

Let’s have a look at , whether bat or ball, in this campaign. 

Gerald Coetzee

The ‘Karate Kid’ was a marquee signing for us this term, having arrived with some promising performances in 2023 - especially the ODI World Cup. And Coetzee hit the ground running, with 13 wickets in 10 games. This run includes an emphatic four-wicket haul (4/34) that powered MI to their first win of the season against Delhi Capitals in a memorable match at Wankhede Stadium in front of 18000 kids. 

Naman Dhir

A talented batting all-rounder, Naman Dhir has shown solid glimpses of his potential with 78 runs in his six innings at a strike rate of 152.94. His best knock so far was his 14-ball 30 while batting at number 3 against Sunrisers Hyderabad. With MI chasing a mammoth 278, Naman injected some confidence with a couple of boundary fours and sixes with the asking rate soaring. 

Nuwan Thushara

The ‘new-age Lasith Malinga’ was a buy that brought excitement to the Paltan, in Mumbai, and worldwide. With five wickets in six outings, the impact was instant. His standout performance would be his 3/42 against Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai, where he joined Trent Boult, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell McClenaghan and Daniel Sams as the overseas players to grab three wickets for MI in the powerplay overs. 

Anshul Kamboj

Key wickets, clutch catches, and crucial runs! A solid impact from Anshul, who is a talent unearthed this year. On the back of a stellar domestic outing (17 wickets in 10 matches for Haryana at the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2024), the 23-year-old has exuded confidence, commitment and determination to be a gamechanger for MI, whenever called upon to bowl. His maiden IPL wicket came as a third-time charm after a couple of missed opportunities - as his length ball deceived SRH’s Mayank Agarwal and clipped the stumps. 

Kwena Maphaka

One of the youngest talents to ever play in the IPL, Kwena Maphaka, gave a glimpse of his immense potential early in the season with his pacy deliveries. The Proteas bowler became the youngest MI player in history to take an IPL wicket when he dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal (with some assistance from Tim David) in our first home game of the season. 

Luke Wood

A left-arm pacer who impressed with both his pace and swing in the early overs. Englishman Luke Wood donned the MI colours twice this term and got his maiden IPL wicket against the Delhi Capitals. His well-disguised slower length ball got Shai Hope to miscue it to deep mid-wicket where Tilak Varma was waiting. 

Shams Mulani

A true blue Mumbaikar, 2024 was the year when Shams would go from being a domestic player for Mumbai to an IPL player for Mumbai Indians. A debut came in the first game of the season against the Gujarat Titans, and while he may not have had any scalps in the bag, the Paltan witnessed those precise bowling lengths and variations with the ball that has seen him become an Indian domestic beast.  

As we approach our final game of the season, there’s no reason why they cannot impress us some more and leave us with memories to last a lifetime. These players have already shown their potential, and we look forward to seeing how they continue to grow into their own!