They weren’t always kings, knights, or titans—some of them started out in blue and flew under the radar!
Before becoming fan favourites elsewhere, some of today’s IPL superstars had a low-key start with none other than the Mumbai Indians. Yes, the same MI that now boasts titles and trophies also once had a habit of letting hidden gems slip away. From slow starts to one-match cameos, here are five cricketers who were once part of the MI camp—only to become bigger stars after moving on.
Credit: ESPNcricinfo
Back when Mumbai Indians had a top-heavy batting order starring Sachin Tendulkar and a host of overseas dashers, Ajinkya Rahane quietly warmed the bench—or, occasionally, the crease. In three seasons (2008–10), he got just 10 innings and scored 148 runs. He moved on in 2011 and found his groove with the Rajasthan Royals. MI’s loss? RR’s gain.
Credit: crictracker
Between 2009 and 2010, before he turned into the moustache-twirling menace we know at SRH, Dhawan had a brief stint with MI. In those 15 innings, he scored 231 runs, with an average of 26.21. One of his standout performances was a memorable 56 against CSK, but he didn’t quite find his footing there. However, the talented left-hander eventually blossomed into a true mainstay—just not during his time with Mumbai!
Credit: ESPNcricinfo
Before he became RCB’s star player, Chahal sported the MI colours from 2011 to 2013. Although he played just one IPL match (without taking any wickets), his impressive 2/9 performance in the 2013 Champions League T20 final really caught everyone’s attention. That standout display earned him a ticket to Bangalore, where he indeed took his game to the next level!
Credit: @MIPaltanFamily
Kuldeep was picked by MI in 2012 and spent more time bowling in the nets than on the field. He didn’t make his debut until he joined KKR in 2014. From net bowler to India’s wrist-spin wizard, his MI story is the ultimate “what could have been.”
Credit: ICC
After signing in 2013 due to his impressive performances in U-19 cricket, Axar faced the challenge of breaking into MI’s busy spin department. However, just a year later, he made the exciting move to Punjab, and from that point on, it’s been all about amazing six-hitting and unforgettable stump-rattling moments!
