Over the past ten years, the Mumbai Indians (MI) scouting team has discovered some exceptional talents that have been vital for the team’s success. The MI management has given various unidentified players who have become overnight sensations chances to take the team to IPL successes.
Among the several cricket players, several have also gone on to represent India internationally and have become important members of the squad, consistently displaying match-winning ability. The following is the MI scouting team’s top finds from past IPL:
Hardik and Krunal Pandya.
Mumbai bought the franchise’s current skipper back in 2015 for USD 10,000. The scouting crew saw the all-rounder while Baroda was hosting local T20 events. MI owner Nita Ambani recently said that Hardik and his brother Krunal were surviving on simply Maggi noodles and engaged in local competitions to make their living.
In Mumbai’s IPL victories in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 Hardik was instrumental. He is now a major part of the Indian side in white-ball formats and significantly helped them win the T20 World Cup 2024 and Champions Trophy 2025. Conversely, Krunal Pandya joined the team in 2016 and led in Player of the Match in the 2019 final triumph. Additionally representing India in both ODIs and T20Is is the left-arm spinner.
Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah, a tall lanky pacer with unorthodox motion, was informed he lacked the components needed to bowl well at the highest level. MI presented him with a much-needed chance during the 2013 season, and the young man registered figures of 3/32 in his debut, therefore drawing attention to his skill.
Since then, Bumrah—who is regarded as the finest bowler of the current generation and the MVP across all three forms—has not looked back. Currently standing highest in the ICC Test bowling averages, Bumrah was also named Player of the Tournament in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.
Tilak Varma
Mumbai acquired the youthful Hyderabad talent in the 2022 season and went on to have a major role on the squad over the following three years. After a strong 2023 season, Varma even made his India debut today and is now a regular mainstay in the T20I team.
With his exceptional shot-making skills, the southpaw is anticipated to become a major player on the Indian squad in all three forms in the next years.
Nehal Wadhera
Another find of the MI scouting squad is the hard-hitting Punjab batter who debuted in the IPL 2023 season. Comparatively to the great Yuvraj Singh, Wadhera is renowned for his extraordinary six-hitting talent. Having two seasons for the team, he scored 350 runs in sixteen innings. For a hefty Rs 4.2 Crore, Punjab Kings paid for the 24-year-old for the 2025 season.
Vignesh Puthur
Puthur made his debut in the current season against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and has the rare left-arm spinner skill found in India. Playing in the Kerala Cricket League, the 24-year-old was observed by the MI scouting squad and made an immediate impression in the IPL with 3/32 on his first run-through.
Ashwani Kumar
After his match-winning performance against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the left-arm spinner has become yet another discovery for Mumbai in the current season. The MI staff discovered Ashwani during the Sher E Punjab T20 Trophy in 2024. He possesses a good wide yolker and is renowned for his pace changes. Making history as the first Indian player to take four wickets in his first-ever IPL performance, he also delighted everyone on debut.