IPL: 4 players that the Mumbai Indians should release

The Mumbai Indians slumped to a surprising league-stage exit in the eleventh edition of the IPL, their second in 3 years. Throughout the season, the team looked off-color and seldom clicked as a unit.

MI managed to win only 6 out of 14 games. Rohit Sharma's men failed to stitch together a long winning streak and one reason for their failure was the senior players not rising to the occasion.

It is time for the team management to make some harsh calls and wield the axe. Here is a look at 4 players that the Mumbai Indians should let go of now.

#4 Akila Danajaya

Akila got only one game in the entire season

The Sri Lankan mystery off-spinner found a home at the Mumbai Indians this season after the franchise let go of their seasoned campaigner Harbhajan Singh. Mumbai Indians were short of experience in the spin-department and hence Danajaya was picked.

He played only one game in the entire season though and returned an unimpressive spell of 0/47 from 4 overs. Thereafter, he was overlooked by the Mumbai Indians for the remainder of the season.

At the moment, Mumbai Indians seem to have a decent spin-bowling attack in the form of Krunal Pandya and Mayank Markande. They really don't need another foreign spinner in their ranks and hence Dananjaya should be released by the MI franchise next season.

#3 Adam Milne

Adam Milne was called up as a replacement for Pat Cummins

At the moment, the Mumbai Indians are packed with a lot of foreign seamers who have failed to make a significant impact in the IPL. Hence, it is time for the Mumbai Indians to let go of some of them.

Milne was called in as a replacement for Pat Cummins and warmed the bench throughout the season. Clearly, Milne does not add more value to the Mumbai Indians bowling attack while he might get chances if he plays for some other franchise.

Milne's exclusion will free up some space to pick another foreign batsman which the Mumbai Indians badly need at the moment. Moreover, if Cummins does return next season, Milne will have to be excluded.

#2 Mustafizur Rahman

'The Fizz' could not replicate the success he enjoyed at SRH

Mustafizur Rahman was picked up by the Mumbai Indians for 2.2 crores this year. Known for his ability to deceive the batsmen with clever cutters, 'The Fizz' did not fare well for the Mumbai Indians at all this season.

Throughout the IPL, Mustafizur did not make any significant contribution with the ball. He picked just 7 wickets from 7 games and his economy rate of 8.32 was on the higher side. Surprisingly, his lengths were too short in this edition of the IPL. Cutters bowled at a short length are bread and butter for the batsmen.

Also, a shoulder injury meant he couldn't bowl very quickly. It is hard to see Mustafizur keeping his place in the MI side after a lackluster show this IPL.

#1 JP Duminy

JP Duminy struggled for runs this season

The South African T20 veteran was picked up by the Mumbai Indians this year for 1 crore. Duminy was picked as a backup foreign batsman and warmed the bench for the most part.

He hardly got an opportunity to bat throughout the season and scored only 36 runs in 6 games.

It is time for the men in blue to let Duminy go so that they can find a place for another batsman. All in all, Duminy's stint with the Mumbai franchise wasn't a successful one.