Anil Kumble, Dav Whatmore, Aakash Chopra and Mayanti Langer discuss Mumbai Indians' 2018 IPL auction Game Plan 

Defending IPL champions Mumbai Indians will have a tough time deciding if they should use the Right to Match (RTM) card for Baroda all-rounder Krunal Pandya. Having not retained the left-handed batsman and off-spinner, the Mumbai Indians have the leeway of utilizing their RTM card for a very able all-rounder who has earned a good name for himself in the format.

In two seasons for them in 2016 and 2017, Krunal amassed 480 runs at 34.29 with a highest score of 86. But most importantly, his strike rate of 158.42 from the middle-order – at times even acting as a finisher – was what stood out. With the ball, he picked up 16 wickets at 31.81.

Mumbai have already retained three players – Rohit Sharma for INR 15 crores, Jasprit Bumrah INR 11 crores and Hardik Pandya INR 7 crores – and have INR 47 crore remaining in the purse.

Video courtesy: Star Sports

Former India captain and coach Anil Kumble described this situation as that depending on the “bucket” which Krunal falls under. “Krunal is a left-hander who floats, bowls spin and is a good fielder, so he is an ideal uncapped player whom Mumbai will want to retain,” he told in the Star Sports show Game Plan. “But the question is the bucket under which he falls for them, which will determine if he is brought in via the RTM.”

With a maximum of two RTMs available to them, they might be tempted to go for a dangerous all-rounder in Keiron Pollard, who can hit the ball miles, bowl sharp slower balls and field superbly; and another player who can attract them will be the wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler who has developed a solid reputation as a late-innings basher.

Video courtesy: Star Sports

“It is very difficult to your combinations right at the auctions, especially with the RTMs, as others will go after your key players. Considering Mumbai are the defending champions, the rest of the teams will be looking at champion players,” Kumble, who has spent a considerable time in their dugout as a mentor, reasoned.

The Vivo IPL Auction 2018 will take place on January 27 and 28 and will be telecasted live on Star Sports 1/ Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi/ Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports First and Hotstar from 9 AM onwards (On Star Sports First, the Hindi telecast will start from 9:05 AM).