The highly-anticipated IPL 2024 auction is just hours away and the excitement is palpable as we count down to the vendue scheduled to take place in Dubai, UAE on the 19th of December.
The joint most successful team in the history of the cash-rich T20 franchise league, Mumbai Indians, shared an image on social media in the lead-up to the auction collating their first picks across auctions since the very first one all the way back in the year 2008.
The list included some illustrious names who have gone on to do incredible things in the world of cricket.
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The list begins with the legendary Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh, who was the very first pick for Mumbai Indians in the 2008 auction, as the side from Maharashtra added the spinner to their ranks after roping in legendary batsman Sachin Tendulkar as the icon player.
South African Jean-Paul Duminy was the side’s opening pick in the 2009 auction and the left-handed batsmen went on to fare well for the Paltan in the years to come.
Big-hitting Kieron Pollard was the team’s opening signing in the year 2010 and the maverick Windies all-rounder turned out to be one of the most impactful players in the history of the side as he helped to multiple titles with sterling performances when it mattered the most.
The 2011 auction is one that MI will forever remember fondly as they managed to acquire the services of the man that would go on to lead them to five titles, Rohit Sharma, as the opening pick in a move that has proven dividends.
Maverick Protea batter Herschell Gibbs was the first pick in the year 2012 for the Paltan, while World Cup-winning Australian skipper Ricky Ponting was the numero uno pick for MI in the 2013 edition of the auction.
Another Australian, fondly known as Mr Cricket, Mike Hussey, was the first draft for MI in the year 2014, followed by compatriot Aaron Finch in the succeeding year. Mumbai managed to bag the services of Englishman Jos Buttler in the year 2016 before adding Nicholas Pooran in the year 2017.
Mumbai went in first for Pollard yet again during the mega-auction in the year 2018, before roping in the iconic Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga in the following year as their first pick.
Australian cricketer Chris Lynn was MI’s first pick in the year 2020, while Kiwi seamer Adam Milne was their first buy in the 2021 auction.
Promising Indian youngster Ishan Kishan was the side’s choice for their opening pick in during the 2022 option followed by Australian Cameroon Green in the previous auction gathering.
MI have already made a statement signing this season as they announced the trade to bring back one of their former players Hardik Pandya in a trade with Gujarat Titans, and will look to add on to their head start heading into the 2024 auction.
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