Discover the top 5 legendary players of Mumbai Indians who made history in the IPL with unforgettable performances.” Mumbai Indians, one of the most successful teams in IPL history, have had some of the best cricketers in their 16 years. In the early days, stars like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Shaun Pollock played for them. Later, legends like Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, and Mitchell Johnson joined, making the team iconic.
Mumbai never hesitated to spend on top players, which brought many legends to the team. Today, players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav continue the legacy, helping MI win five championships. With so many stars, who deserves a spot in the top five?
5. Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah is currently the most important player for Mumbai Indians. He is India’s top fast bowler and played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 win and ODI World Cup 2023 qualification. Recognizing his value, Mumbai Indians retained him for INR 18 crore before the IPL 2025 mega-auction, making him their first pick.
The 30-year-old has played 136 IPL matches for Mumbai, taking 168 wickets. He has been crucial in all five of their IPL title wins. Notably, he was the highest wicket-taker in three title-winning seasons, with 20 wickets in 2017, 19 in 2019, and 27 in 2020.
Bumrah has always played for Mumbai Indians and is unlikely to leave. Although there were rumors of him moving before IPL 2025, the team retained him first, showing their trust. Bumrah also shares a strong bond with the team management.
4. Lasith Malinga
Is Lasith Malinga the greatest bowler for Mumbai Indians? Many would agree. He played 139 matches across 10 seasons, taking 195 wickets with an average of 19.22. He holds the record for the most wickets in MI history and was key to their four IPL title wins. His 2019 final heroics, defending nine runs to beat Chennai Super Kings by one run, will always be remembered.
Malinga led Mumbai’s bowling attack for years before passing the role to Jasprit Bumrah. He also mentored Bumrah, helping shape his career. Bumrah has often credited Malinga for his guidance and is now only 27 wickets behind him in MI’s all-time list.
After retiring, Malinga became a bowling coach for Mumbai Indians, briefly joined Rajasthan Royals, and then returned to Mumbai. He continues in the same role, hoping to lead the team back to success after a few tough seasons.
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3. Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar and Mumbai Indians are closely connected. Mumbai’s first captain and Icon player joined the team before the 2008 mega-auction for INR 4.4 crore, making him the third-most expensive player that season, after MS Dhoni and Andrew Symonds. The legendary cricketer played for the franchise until his retirement in 2013.
Sachin played 91 matches for Mumbai, including 78 IPL games, scoring 2599 runs. He even scored a century for the team and was the top run-scorer of IPL 2010, making 618 runs in 15 matches with a strike rate of 132.61. That year, he led the team to the final but lost by 22 runs to Chennai Super Kings.
Since retiring, Sachin has remained a key part of the Mumbai Indians family. He has been a mentor and was the one who recommended Rohit Sharma as captain in 2013.
2. Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard’s contribution to Mumbai Indians is unmatched. He played 211 matches for the team, scoring 3915 runs and taking 79 wickets. In IPL, he played 189 games, scoring 3412 runs at a strike rate of 147.32. Even after retiring, Pollard continues to serve MI as their batting coach.
Pollard wasn’t just a powerful batter; his bowling and exceptional fielding also played a big role in MI’s success over the years. The team brought in Australia’s Tim David as his replacement, but they soon realized it was almost impossible to replace someone like Pollard. This also led them to bring back Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans.
Pollard is one of the few players to win five IPL titles. He also won two Champions League trophies and is considered one of the greatest all-rounders in IPL history. He joined MI in 2009 and stayed with the team until his IPL retirement in 2022.
1. Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, one of the most successful IPL captains alongside MS Dhoni, joined Mumbai Indians in the 2011 mega-auction for INR 11 crore. Since then, he has been a key part of the team. Although there were rumors of him leaving before IPL 2025, he chose to stay, signing a deal worth INR 16.30 crore per season.
Rohit has played 221 matches for Mumbai, including the Champions League, scoring 5731 runs. He became captain during the 2013 season and led the team to their first title that same year, also finishing as the team’s top scorer. Under his leadership, Mumbai won four more titles in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, making him the first captain to win five IPL trophies. He also has six IPL titles overall, having won one with Deccan Chargers in 2009.
Rohit holds the records for most matches, runs, and wins for Mumbai Indians in IPL history. Considered the franchise’s greatest player, he will continue in 2025 despite controversies in 2024, aiming to achieve even more success.
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