Mumbai Indians retain 18 players, Rohit Sharma continue to lead as a captain

Mumbai: Mumbai Indians have retained 18 players ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL)  2019 player auction. Rohit Sharma the most successful captain in IPL  will continue to lead Mumbai Indians.

Mumbai Indians continue with the talents it has identified and nurtured over the years. 

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Markande, Aditya 

Tare, Ishan Kisan, Rahul Chahar, Anukul Roy and Suryakumar Yadav continue with the 

three-time champions.

To maintain the mix of experience and youth, the franchise has retained Kieron Pollard, 

Ben Cutting, destructive opener Evin Lewis and Kiwi pair of Mitchell McClenaghan and 

Adam Milne.

The management has also backed Australia's T20 specialist Jason Behrendorff after 

the left-arm quick was recalled to the national side to face the Proteas.The franchise has released 10 players which include 1 capped, 5 uncapped and 4 

international players.

South Africa's Jean-Paul Duminy has been released along with Australian fast-bowler Pat Cummins who was ruled out before the start of IPL 2018. Bangladesh's Mustafizur Rahman and Sri Lankan spinner Akila Dananjaya have also been released.

Mumbai Indians have also released Saurabh Tiwary, Pradeep Sangwan, Sharad Lumba, Tajinder Singh Dhillon. UP pacer Mohsin Khan and Kerala's MD Nidheesh also find themselves in the released players' list.

Retained players: Rohit Sharma (C), Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Krunal Pandya, 

Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Mayank Markande, Rahul Chahar, Anukul Roy, 

Siddhesh Lad, Aditya Tare, Quinton de Kock, Kieron Pollard, Ben Cutting, Mitchell 

McClenaghan, Adam Milne, Jason Behrendorff.

Released players: Saurabh Tiwary, Pradeep Sangwan, Mohsin Khan, MD Nidheesh, 

Sharad Lumba, Tajinder Singh Dhillon, JP Duminy, Pat Cummins, Mustafizur Rahman, 

Akila Dananjaya.(UNI)