MUMBAI: Veteran Mumbai seamer Dhawal Kulkarni is set to join the beleaguered Mumbai Indians, currently lying at the bottom of the 10-team IPL-15 table, by "month end," a source informed TOI.
Kulkarni, who's a part of the Star Sports Hindi commentary team during IPL 2022, went unsold at the IPL auction in February. The 33-year-old has taken 86 wickets in 92 IPL games for MI, Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Lions. He was bought by MI for Rs 75 lakhs before IP -2020, and was a part of the franchise in 2021 too, though he played just one game for them. He's played 12 ODIs (19 wickets@26.07) and two T20Is (3 wickets@18.3) for India. The experienced pacer took seven wickets in three games@25.28 this season for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy.
"MI skipper Rohit Sharma was keen on adding Kulkarni to strengthen their pace attack. Being from Mumbai, he's aware of how to bowl in Mumbai and Pune, where IPL-15 is being held," the source informed this paper. Barring Jasprit Bumrah, all the MI pacers have struggled badly this season, and that has been a large factor which had led to the team losing its first six games to endure its worst start in any IPL edition.
