How Mumbai Indians scouting pool have unearthed talents in IPL over the years

Mumbai Indians have a rising star in their ranks in Ashwani Kumar, who won the Player Of The Match in his debut against Kolkata Knight Riders during the Indian Premier League (IPL 2025) match on Monday. Here’s a closer look at how MI balances top foreign talent with young breakout stars.
Over the years, Mumbai Indians have unearthed top talent in the IPL through its extensive scouting network. Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan, Nehar Wadhera, Vignesh Puthur and most recently Ashwani Kumar joined the l of difference makers for the legacy franchise. 
23-year-old Ashwani Kumar stole the spotlight on his debut with a magical spell of four wickets in three overs, including the wicket of power hitter Andre Russell. The Ajinkya Rahane-led contingent crumbled as they set a meagre total of just 116. 
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Another promising talent scooped up MI this season is Vignesh Puthur. The left-arm wr spinner picked up three big wickets against arch-rivals Chennai Super Kings on his debut. Despite his side ending up on the wrong side of the scoreboard, Puthur turned heads claiming the wickets of CSK captain Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shivam Dube and Deepak Hooda. 

While Ashwani becomes the most recent addition to a l of big names scouted the Mumbai Indians, Jasprit Bumrah, the backbone of India’s bowling unit, Hardik Pandya, captain of the MI franchise and Ishan Kishan, who recently joined Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹11.25 crore are all finds of Mumbai’s extensive scouting network. 
How does Mumbai Indians’ scouting unit find top talent?
MI scouts keep a close watch on domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Buchi Babu Tournament. Several former cricketers are also part of MI’s expansive scouting network. Parthiv Patel, Kiran More and John Wright have been part of this network. A close watch is kept on young talent over multiple seasons, before they are recommended for trials. 
Once identified, MI provides a platform for these players to further develop their abilities through training camps and assessments under the Head Coach and senior players. The final step demands approval from the team captain and owners. Only after these steps does MI go forward with signing a player and offering them a contract. Story continues below this ad
MI’s best finds over the years – where are they now?
Hardik Pandya – The 31-year-old all-rounder started his long-standing association with MI in 2015 and has risen to the ranks of captain. He also played an important role in two of India’s major triumphs in ICC Tournaments – the Champions Trophy in March 2025 and the T20 World Cup in 2024. 
Jasprit Bumrah – The right-arm medium pacer, regarded as the best of his generation many, is known for his reliability in both opening and death overs. The 31-year-old has been part of Mumbai’s bowling line-up for over a decade and has picked up 165 wickets in the process. Bumrah has been part of five iconic IPL triumphs and is MI’s second-highest wicket-taker after Lasith Malinga. 
Suryakumar Yadav – Mumbai’s trusted middle-order batsman was scouted the franchise back in 2012. Notably, the right-hand batsman has won IPL crowns with both MI and KKR. He currently leads India’s T20 squad and is well-known for his six-hitting abilities, giving him the title of Mr.360. 
Axar Patel – The Delhi Capitals skipper started his IPL career with Mumbai in 2013. He currently operates as the vice-captain of Indian’s T20 unit and is one of the most reliable all-rounders in the game. Also known as ‘Bapu’, the left-arm orthodox bowler is among the few who have claimed an IPL hat-trick against Gujarat Lions (2016). Story continues below this ad
In recent years, Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals have also followed Mumbai’s model, establishing their own scouting networks. However, Mumbai’s scouting program remains unrivalled.