With five IPL titles, Mumbai Indians (MI) are the joint-most successful IPL franchise in tournament history. They had started as mediocre, as their performance lagged despite having some of the best players. However, as the years progressed, they set the trend and brought in match-winners from across the world.
MI’s success between 2010 and 2020 has got to do a lot with the overseas T20 specialists, and they have certainly taken a cue, carefully picking the next bunch of talented overseas players for the upcoming IPL in 2024.
This blog will look at MI overseas players and how they might fare in the tournament.
Comprehensive List of MI Overseas Players in IPL 2024
In the IPL 2024 auction, CSK has added Afghanistan all-rounder Mohammad Nabi, the Lankan duo of Dilshan Madushanka and Nuwan Tushara, and South African international Gerald Coetzee. Here’s the complete list of MI overseas players in the IPL 2024 season:
- Tim David
- Mohammad Nabi
- Jason Behrendorff
- Dewald Brevis
- Romario Shepherd
- Gerald Coetzee
- Dilshan Madushanka
- Nuwan Thushara
We look at each of the MI overseas players closely:
Tim David:
Singapore-born Australian cricketer Tim David came into the spotlight while playing in PSL. And the RCB scouts wasted no time bagging him, as David replaced Finn Allen in the 2021 season. He played just one match before moving to the MI, where his IPL career took off. He struck 186 and 231 runs in the 2022 and 2023 seasons at an excellent strike rate. With a price tag of ₹8.25 crore, all eyes will again be on him in the new season.
Mohammad Nabi:
Mohammad Nabi is the surprise overseas pick in the MI squad. At 39, he is still a match-fit to bowl four overs of spin and do some hitting down the order. The veteran cricketer struck a valuable 48 and recently took five wickets in an ODI against Ireland a few days ago. Bought ₹1.5 crore, he can be the spin all-rounder MI has been looking for all these years.
Jason Behrendorff:
Jason Behrendorff, part of the MI squad in the 2018 and 2019 seasons, made his IPL debut in 2021 for CSK but struggled to get going, playing just five games. He joined RCB in the 2022 edition but failed to get a game. Behrendorff was traded to MI, where he finally got his big break as the first overseas Impact player. It became a set formula for playing him regularly, and the Aussie took 14 wickets in 12 games in IPL 2023. A new ball specialist, he can be highly effective with his pace variations.
Dewald Brevis:
Known as Baby AB, Brevis was the top scorer for South Africa in the 2022 Under-19 World Cup. Soon, he was picked up by MI for ₹3 crore, and although he played seven games in his debut season, he warmed the bench in 2023. However, with retention ahead of 2024, MI management has made it clear that he will feature in their plans. Brevis, one of the cleanest hitters, can be the game-changer for MI in the 2024 edition.
Romario Shepherd:
Part of the Lucknow Super Giants in 2023, Romario Shepherd hasn’t been able to get enough game time in IPL yet. However, his performance in Caribbean domestic cricket proves he can be a real menace if he gets going. MI management took this into account and traded him for ₹50 lakhs. He has played four IPL games where he scored 58 runs and picked up three wickets.
Gerald Coetzee:
Known for his extreme aggression, Gerald Coetzee can get into anybody’s skin. The South African pacer attracted attention during the 2024 auction, and in the end, the five-time champions bought him for ₹5 crore. Coetzee has never played in the IPL, and the MI faithful will hope he makes a stunning debut.
Dilshan Madushanka:
Dilshan Madushanka made an impact in the 2022 Asia Cup, where his in-swinging deliveries attracted praise from Pakistan legend Wasim Akram. He later bowled brilliantly at the 2023 ODI World Cup, picking up a five-wicket haul against India. This performance made the IPL scouts take a look at him, and by the time auctions arrived, he was on the target list of many franchises. Eventually, MI snapped him up for ₹4.6 crore.
Nuwan Thushara:
Nuwan Thushara came into the spotlight thanks to his bowling action, which is similar to that of a former Sri Lankan legend. Thushara, called the ‘Malinga clone,’ has an action that defines the unorthodoxy of T20 specialists. Initially placed at a base price of ₹50 lakh, Thushara triggered a bidding war among many franchises, which ended when MI bought him for a whopping ₹4.8 crore.
FAQs about MI Overseas Players in IPL 2024
Tim David, Dewald Brevis, Mohammad Nabi, Romario Shepherd, Jason Behrendorff, Gerald Coetzee, Dilshan Madushanka, and Nuwan Thushara are MI’s overseas players in the IPL 2024 season.
Gerald Coetzee, paid ₹5 crore, is MI’s most expensive overseas player in the IPL 2024 auction.
Thanks to his power-hitting in the 2023 season, Tim David is the most popular overseas player in the MI squad.