IPL 2018: 5 star performers this year who were once a part of Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians are the most successful side in the history of IPL, winning the title on three occasions. Though Chennai and Kolkata have a chance of equalling that record this year, one cannot deny the fact that Mumbai Indians are amongst the most popular franchises in IPL.

Mumbai had a lot of expectations to meet this year as they were entering the competition as the defending champions but the team hasn't made a good job of defending the title and have faltered in the league stage itself.

Mumbai Indians have always been a side which has attracted the best talents from the country and therefore have had some great players sitting on the bench. There are a number of IPL legends who sat on the Mumbai bench due to lack of opportunities and were ultimately bought by some other side.

This year while Mumbai Indians have struggled on the field, a number of their former players have performed brilliantly for their new teams and Mumbai might be regretting letting these players go.

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Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik is one of the most traveled cricketers in the history of IPL. He has been a part of 6 IPL teams and was with the Mumbai Indians side in 2012 and 2013. He had a great time with the Mumbai side as he performed pretty well for the team.

Dinesh Karthik is now the captain of the Kolkata Knight Riders and this additional responsibility has made him perform even better. He has been the player who has single-handedly taken the Kolkata side to the playoffs.

Dinesh has scored 490 runs in 15 matches at a phenomenal average of 54 and an impressive strike rate of 148. He has scored the highest number of runs that a number 5 batsman has ever scored in the history of the competition.

Mumbai Indians have struggled with their middle order and if they had retained this man the things would have been totally different for the Mumbai side.

Ambati Rayudu

Ambati Rayudu

Rayudu's career is one of the most interesting careers in Indian cricket. He joined the rebel Indian Cricket League in 2008 and was banned from playing for India by BCCI. When BCCI had decided to grant amnesty to ICL players he made use of it and was allowed to play in IPL.

Rayudu was a part of the Mumbai Indians team from 2010 till 2017 and was an extremely important player for the team. He was the one who held the middle order together and was a great servant for the Mumbai side.

Ambati Rayudu is one of those players whom Mumbai Indians will regret letting go of this year. He has been having a phenomenal 2018 IPL as he has scored 586 runs in 15 matches at a phenomenal average of 42 and an impressive strike rate of 153.

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler is one of the best Wicketkeepers in world cricket at present in the shorter formats of the game. He is a brilliant hitter of the ball and can be lethal at the top as he uses powerplay extremely effectively.

Butler wasn't retained by Mumbai Indians this year and he was picked up Rajasthan Royals in the auction. He didn't have a great IPL in the first half of the tournament as he struggled against spinners in a spread outfield.

Once Buttler was promoted to open the Rajasthan innings, he totally transformed into a different player. He scored 548 runs in 13 matches this year at an average of 55 and a strike rate of 155.

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan

Shikhar Dhawan is one of the biggest finds of Mumbai Indians. He was bought by Mumbai in 2009 and was groomed to be a great opener in both IPL and in International cricket for India.

Dhawan has become a star for the Indian team in International cricket and is expected to be a part of the Indian World Cup team as well. He has performed brilliantly for Sunrisers Hyderabad this year as well.

Dhawan has scored 437 runs in 14 matches at an impressive average of 40 and a strike rate of 140. He has been a pillar of strength for the Sunrisers at the top and along with Williamson, he has powered the Hyderabad side to the playoffs.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav was first a part of the Mumbai Indians side in 2012. He was unable to get a chance in that star-studded Mumbai side. He was then selected for the Indian Under-19 World Cup side in 2014 and was later picked up by KKR that year.

Yadav is a rare talent and is the future of Indian spin bowling and is the only chinaman bowler in the Indian setup at present. He is a brilliant spinner of the ball and the pace at which he bowls adds to his potency as a spin bowler.

Kuldeep has picked up 15 wickets in 15 matches this year at an average of 26 and a strike rate of 19. He has been the main spinner of the Kolkata side which has three spinners and he has provided the wickets to his team at important situations in the match.