The IPL franchise, Mumbai Indians (MI), paid Rs 1 crore for Yuvraj Singh in a last-minute buy and franchise owner Akash Ambai called it their biggest buy in the tournament’s 11-year-old history.
MI also brought back Sri Lankan speedster Lasith Malinga, who served the team for a long time, at his base price of Rs 2 crore.
“To be honest, we had budgeted a lot more for Yuvraj and Malinga. At Rs one crore, a player like Yuvraj is probably a (biggest) steal of 12 (sic) years. He has won every trophy there is to be won,” Ambani said while speaking to Star Sports.
“We focussed on experience a lot as well on the youngsters. We have identified specific roles for both of them (Yuvraj and Malinga).”
"We've been trying to sign @YUVSTRONG12 for ages."
Akash Ambani reveals what went behind buying Yuvi and having Malinga back.#CricketMeriJaan pic.twitter.com/rkTcbERGHJ
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) December 19, 2018
Yuvraj initially went unsold in the auction and it was only after he re-entered the players’ pool, Mumbai Indians bought him.
In 2015, Yuvraj fetched a record Rs 16 crore deal with the Delhi franchise since then his IPL fortunes have fallen rapidly. He was picked up by Kings XI Punjab at his base of price of Rs 2 crore earlier this year before the team released him following a lean 2018 IPL.
