5 players whose IPL careers blossomed after leaving the Mumbai Indians

The Mumbai Indians are one of the most successful franchises in the history of Indian Premier League, having won the title thrice - 2013, 2015 and 2017. 'Hitman' Rohit Sharma's elevation as their skipper midway through the 2013 IPL proved to be the decisive factor in Mumbai's rise as an IPL powerhouse.

Rohit took over the captaincy from one of the best skippers the game has ever seen - Ricky Ponting and transformed the side's fortunes by leading them to their first ever IPL title during the sixth edition of the league. Mumbai claimed their second IPL crown in 2015 and their third two years later during the tenth edition of the IPL.

Thereby, Rohit Sharma became the first ever skipper to win three IPL titles. Several leading international stars have donned the Blue jersey over the years - the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Ricky Ponting and Shaun Pollock to name a few.

The team has given the Indian cricket team so many young and exciting talents over the years. Players like Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya have made it to the highest level after some impressive performances in the Mumbai Indians colours during the initial days of their IPL careers.

Let us now look at five players whose IPL careers blossomed after leaving the Mumbai Indians:

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#5 Axar Patel

Axar Patel lasted for a single season in Mumbai

Axar began his IPL stint with the Mumbai Indians in 2013. Though his team won the title in that edition of the IPL, the slow left-arm orthodox bowler did not get an opportunity to don the Blue jersey throughout the season.

After being released by the Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2014 IPL auction, he was bought by the Kings XI Punjab for INR 75 lakhs for the seventh edition of the league. Akshar surprised everyone with a splendid display of spin-bowling scalping 17 wickets in 17 matches at an economy of just 6.13.

His side reached the IPL finals for the very first time but unfortunately lost to the Kolkata Knight Riders. Nevertheless, he was adjudged the Emerging Player of that season for his contributions with both the bat and ball.

Two weeks later, he made his ODI debut against Bangladesh and was the only player to be retained by Punjab ahead of last year's auction. He has 61 wickets and 686 runs to his name in the IPL career, so far.

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#4 Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan has had six successful seasons with Sunrisers Hyderabad

Dhawan began his IPL stint with the Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) back in 2008 and subsequently moved to the Mumbai Indians in the following season after being traded for Ashish Nehra during the pre-season trading window.

The Delhi-born batsman who stayed two years with the Mumbai Indians had a forgettable outing managing just 40 runs in five matches during the 2009 IPL.

In the very next season, Dhawan made 191 runs in 10 matches at an average of 19.10 and was eventually released ahead of the 2011 auction where he was bought for $300,000 by the now-defunct, Deccan Chargers.

The move was major a breakthrough in Dhawan's IPL career, as the southpaw scored 400 runs in that season and followed it up with 569 runs in the next season. With scores of 311, 377, 353, 501, 479 and 497 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the next six seasons, Dhawan has been one of the consistent performers with the bat at the top of the order.

This season though, Gabbar will be back at his former franchise - Delhi Capitals.

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#3 Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane has enjoyed tremendous success with the Royals

Rahane, who has so far played for three different franchises began his IPL stint with the Mumbai Indians at the inaugural edition of the league in 2008 after being signed for $50,000.

Apart from failing to make the XI regularly during his initial IPL days, Rahane could not score big during his stint with the Mumbai Indians. The Mumbaikar who managed just 4 runs in two matches at the 2008 IPL, amassed 144 runs in eight matches in the following season at South Africa.

After being released ahead of the 2011 IPL auctions, Rahane was bought by the Rajasthan Royals.

Though his poor IPL form continued in the first season at Rajasthan, his IPL career blossomed as the seasons progressed. Rahane amassed 560, 588, 339 and 540 runs for the Royals before the side was suspended for two years due to the alleged involvement of their owners in the spot-fixing scandal.

After scoring 862 runs in two seasons for the now-defunct Rising Pune Supergiants, Rahane returned to Rajasthan for the 2018 edition and the Royals skipper scored 370 runs leading his side to a fourth-place finish.

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#2 Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal has become an integral part of the Indian ODI side

Not many people might be aware of Yuzvendra Chahal's IPL stint with the Mumbai Indians. Though Chahal was a part of the Mumbai squad from 2011, the leg-spinner made his IPL debut for the franchise against the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2013.

That game turned out to be his first and last encounter in a Mumbai Indians shirt as he was released by them ahead of the 2014 IPL auction and was snapped up by the Royals Challengers Bangalore for INR 10 lakhs.

Chahal scalped 12 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 7.01 for Virat Kohli's men in that season. In the following season, he took 23 wickets and was a pivotal member of the RCB squad that finished third behind the Mumbai Indians and the Chennai Super Kings.

In the memorable ninth edition of the IPL (both individually as well as for his side), Chahal took 21 wickets which earned him the Indian cap (ODI debut in June 2016). He is now one of the permanent fixtures in the Indian limited-overs squad.

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#1 Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav has had a wonderful rise to the Indian team

Kuldeep began his IPL stint with the Mumbai Indians in 2012. Unfortunately, the youngster did not get an opportunity to don the jersey during that season and was bought by the Kolkata Knight Riders at the 2014 auction for INR 40 lakhs.

Though he made his IPL debut only in 2016, he rose to prominence after joining the Knight Riders. The then KKR skipper, Gautam Gambhir showed immense faith in this young lad from Kanpur and he did not disappoint his captain.

In the three games he played at the 2016 IPL, Kuldeep took six wickets. He put up a dominating display of bowling in the next two seasons picking up 29 wickets across those two editions.

His move to Kolkata paid rich dividends as he made his Test and ODI debuts for Team India March and June 2017 respectively. At 24, he is one of the promising spinners in world cricket at the moment.

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