The Mumbai Indians have been known for spotting young stars before they make it big.
But this time, former India opener Aakash Chopra believes the five-time IPL champions have been too quick to give up on their overseas recruits.
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Speaking about the IPL 2026 auction build-up, Chopra said MI once had a golden group of foreign players but failed to keep faith in them. He feels that the decision could hurt them in the long run.
Which overseas stars did MI let go too soon?
Chopra recalled a period when Mumbai Indians had Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Tim David and Cameron Green together in their squad.
None of them really stood out for MI at the time, but each one later proved their value for other franchises.
"The Mumbai Indians figure out everyone before time. I am going to take four names, who they had, but they let them go. So could the overseas player management have been better? They had Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Tim David and Cameron Green, and all in one year," he said.
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He pointed out that MI’s scouting for Indian talent is second to none, but when it comes to overseas newcomers, they seem to lack the same patience.
"The Mumbai Indians have a very rich legacy of spotting talent, but they would definitely want to change one thing. Just as they are with Indian talent, maybe they will have to exercise a bit more patience with their overseas recruits. You let them go as small stones, but they get carved over time, and then they become a crowning jewel in somebody's crown," Chopra added.
Why does Aakash Chopra think Cameron Green was the biggest miss?
Among the names, Chopra feels Cameron Green’s exit could be the most damaging. The Australian all-rounder, who is only batting at the moment due to injury recovery, has been in superb form.
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Chopra predicts Green could even become the most expensive buy in the IPL 2026 auction. His reasoning is simple that once Green starts bowling again, his value as an all-rounder will skyrocket.
"If he starts bowling and considering the batting ability he has, he could actually break the bank. People will spend a lot of money on him. That's what I feel. So this auction could be in Cameron Green's name," he added.
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As the IPL 2026 auction nears, all eyes will be on how MI approaches the market and whether they try to make amends for the foreign stars they let slip away.