Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes Mumbai Indians could target either Adam Zampa or Adil Rashid in the upcoming auction. Mumbai has all the bases covered but the spin department is their Achilles Heel. The five-time champions had played Kumar Kartikeya, who scalped five wickets in four matches in the previous season.
Mumbai will want to rope in a wrist spinner and Manjrekar feels every team wants spinners like Rashid Khan and Sunil Narine in their ranks.
Adil Rashid had scalped four wickets in six matches of the T20 World Cup and he had bowled with an economy rate of 6.12. Rashid has set his base price at INR 2 crores whereas Adam Zampa has a base price of INR 1.50 Crores.
Meanwhile, the five-time champions have a remaining purse of INR 20.55 crores ahead of the auction and they would want to fill in the spinner’s void.
“Every IPL team needs somebody like Rashid Khan. They are looking for their Rashid Khan or Sunil Narine. So that’s where perhaps somebody like a Zampa or an Adil Rashid could come into the equation to find a leg-spinner because all the other aspects seem okay despite their performances last season,” Manjrekar shared his views on Star Sports show – Game Plan.
On the other hand, Manjrekar feels Mumbai Indians shouldn’t have let go of Rahul Chahar. The leg-spinner was roped in by Punjab Kings for INR 5.25 crores. Former Mumbai batter feels the franchise could also be interested in Tabraiz Shamsi in the auctions.
“So yes, a wrist spinner. They have let go of M Ashwin. They have had a history of leg spinners. There was Markande with them. Rahul Chahar – they should never have let him go, he has gone, so maybe an overseas spinner. Tabraiz Shamsi is another wrist-spinner who Mumbai Indians might be interested in,” Manjrekar added.
Mumbai Indians had finished the previous season as the cellar dwellers with only four wins in 14 matches and they will want to turn the tables in the forthcoming season.
IPL 2023 auctions will take place in Kochi on Friday.
