When Yuvraj Singh went unsold in the first round of the 2019 IPL auctions, there were plenty of eyebrows raised. However, he came back in the final round and Mumbai Indians snapped him up at his base price of Rs 1 crore.
Yes, there was jubilation in the camp and how Yuvraj will fit into the squad when the tournament begins remains to be seen, but owner Akash Ambani believes that at Rs 1 crore, Yuvraj is the biggest steal in IPL history.
"To be honest, we had budgeted a lot more for Yuvraj and Malinga. At Rs one crore, a player like Yuvraj is probably a (biggest) steal of 12 (sic) years. He has won every trophy there is to be won," Ambani told the host broadcaster after the auction.
? BREAKING: @YUVSTRONG12 JOINS MUMBAI INDIANS ?#CricketMeriJaan #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/AOfHlCXd23
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 18, 2018
Ambani also said that they always wanted to have a mix of youth and experience in the squad and that they have identified specific roles for Yuvraj and Lasith Malinga (who was also bought by Mumbai Indians).
"We focussed on experience a lot as well on the youngsters. We have identified specific roles for both of them (Yuvraj and Malinga)," Ambani said.
I am glad to be part of the @mipaltan family, looking forward for the season to begin. See u soon @ImRo45 ?
— yuvraj singh (@YUVSTRONG12) December 18, 2018
The franchise bought pace bowlers, Barinder Sran and Rasikh Salam in case Jasprit Bumrah has to be rested owing to World Cup commitments. They already traded Quinton de Kock before the auctions and with the inclusion of Yuvraj Singh, the squad resembles a settled look.
Zak & Yuvi together again!
— ZENIA D'CUNHA (@ZENIADCUNHA) December 18, 2018
Mumbai Indians Director of Cricket Operations Zaheer Khan buys old friend Yuvraj Singh after he initially goes unsold. #IPLAuction
Congrats, @YUVSTRONG12 on all the new challenges ahead of you!
— Kings XI Punjab (@lionsdenkxip) December 18, 2018
You will surely be missed, Southpaw! ?
#KXIP #LivePunjabiPlayPunjabi #SaddaSquad #IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/15FqHZT2fY
OH MI GAWD! pic.twitter.com/rRcjgg3EAh
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) December 18, 2018
Finally a good news for Yuvraj Singh, he goes to Mumbai Indians. I can't wait for his comeback. We shouldn't forget his contribution to Indian Cricket. He is a genuine warrior and king of sixes. Good luck champ! @YUVSTRONG12 #IPLAuction
— Rishabh Datta (@rishabhdatt) December 18, 2018
#iplauction
— Shishir Gargav (@ShishirGargav1) December 18, 2018
Best buy of the day#mipaltan prof that they are in business with passion & dignity for cricket.
Well come in team #mi #yuvi#YuvrajSingh pic.twitter.com/U5i7k0ZgVq
This is how Mumbai Indians squad stack up:
Batsmen: Evin Lewis, Quinton de Kock, Anmolpreet Singh, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Siddhesh Lad
Wicketkeepers: Ishan Kishan, Aditya Tare
Allrounders: Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Ben Cutting, Yuvraj Singh, Pankaj Jaiswal
Wrist spinners: Mayank Markande, Rahul Chahar, Anukul Roy
Fast bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Adam Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jason Behrendorff, Rasikh Salam, Lasith Malinga, Barinder Sran