Having retained their top six players for Rs 75 crore, the Mumbai Indians had only a Rs 45 crores purse for the mega auction and swung into the action only late in the day when they snapped up New Zealand’s veteran left-arm pacer Trent Boult, known for his lethal yorkers and early strikes for Rs 12.50cr. It means that Boult, who took 16 wickets in IPL2024 but was still released by the Rajasthan Royals, will wear the MI jersey again and be reunited with India’s ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah at MI. Boult finished with 12 wickets in the Powerplay, the most for a bowler in IPL-2024.
The ‘jugalbandi’ of Bumrah and Boult was instrumental in MI’s title-winning campaign in 2020. It was their fifth and last crown.
Overall, Boult, 35, has represented as many as five teams Sunrisers Hyderabad before moving to Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Capitals, MI, and RR in the cash-rich league.
Ashwin returns home to CSK
So keen was R Ashwin on the Chennai Super Kings buying him that he even ‘sold himself’ to the franchise in a mock auction on his YouTube Channel. Ultimately, it did turn out to be a case of ‘home sweet home’ for the veteran India off-spinner as he was acquired by CSK for Rs 9.75cr.
With RR deciding to invest in youth, Ashwin had a chance at going back to CSK for whom he played from 2010 to 2015.
