Mumbai Indians (MI) have been allowed a replacement for Corey Anderson who was injured and could not be a part of the men in blue. The replacement was approved by the Indian Premier League (IPL) Technical Committee few days ago. The Nottinghamshire's English batsman Alex Hales confirmed the news on his official Twitter handle on Friday.
Hales tweeted, "Delighted to have signed for @mipaltan for the remainder of the IPL, can't wait to get out there amongst it!"
Although there has not been any official announcement from Mumbai Indians or the official IPL website, it seems that he is likely to join the Mumbai squad before their final league match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday.
Not long before he left for India to join Mumbai Indians, he smashed six consecutive sixes for Nottinghamshire in the opening match of the NatWest Blast against Warwickshire. Warwickshire had posted a total of 141 for 7 in their alotted 20 overs and Nottinghamshire chased it down comfortably, winning the match by eight wickets; courtesy a blistering knock from the tall-English batsman (86* from just 43 balls, which inlcuded eight towering sixes).
He would give a major boost to Mumbai Indians batting order and with the kind of form he is in, England and Wales Cricket Board Director Andrew Strauss might just consider him for the summer season. He is also without a club in KFC Big Bash League 5. This innings of his would raise the eyebrows of other clubs, as his former club Hobart Hurricanes chose Kumar Sangakkara and Darren Sammy as their international recruits.
Hakes went unsold during the auction for IPL 2015 but now he has opted by the men in blue. His contract will allow him to play for the final stages of the IPL if Mumbai Indians manage to beat Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and make it to the Playoff stages. Post the IPL, Hales would fly back to England and continue to play for Nottinghamshire.
