The Mumbai Indians are one of the most successful teams in IPL history, with some of cricket’s biggest names playing for them over their 16 years. In the early days, players like Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, and Shaun Pollock were part of the team.
Later, other famous players, including Ricky Ponting, Andrew Symonds, and Mitchell Johnson, joined, helping Mumbai become legendary. Known for investing in top talent, Mumbai has always had many cricket legends on its roster.
Today, the team is still strong, with stars like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav playing key roles in securing five championships. With so many greats having played for the team, the big question is: who deserves to be in Mumbai Indians’ top five players of all time?
List Of Top Greatest Mumbai Indians Players in IPL History
Player | Role | Joined MI | Matches Played | Runs Scored | Wickets Taken | Key Contributions | Current Role |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sachin Tendulkar | Icon Player & Captain | 2008 | 91 (78 IPL games) | 2599 | – | MI first captain, leading run-scorer of IPL 2010, mentor for team, suggested Rohit as captain | Mentor |
Lasith Malinga | Bowler | 2009 | 139 | – | 195 | MI’s highest wicket-taker, key role in 4 IPL wins, defended 9 runs in 2019 final to secure title | Bowling Coach |
Kieron Pollard | All-Rounder | 2009 | 211 (189 IPL) | 3915 (3412 IPL) | 79 | Known for powerful batting, reliable bowler, won 5 IPL titles with MI, remains a legendary figure for the team | Batting Coach |
Jasprit Bumrah | Bowler | 2013 | 136 | – | 168 | Top seamer, key to MI’s 5 IPL titles, highest wicket-taker in multiple seasons, loyal MI player | Active Player (Retained) |
Rohit Sharma | Captain & Batsman | 2011 | 221 (136 IPL) | 5731 | – | Led MI to 5 IPL titles, key run-scorer in 2013, remains top captain, iconic player retained for 2025 season | Active Player (Captain) |
Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma, one of the most successful IPL captains along with MS Dhoni, joined the Mumbai Indians in 2011 after being bought for INR 11 crore. He has stayed with the team since then. Although there were rumors about him leaving before the IPL 2025 mega-auction, he chose to stay and signed a new deal worth INR 16.30 crore per season.
Rohit has played 221 matches for Mumbai, including the Champions League, scoring a total of 5731 runs. He took on the captain’s role midway through the 2013 season and led the team to victory in his very first season as captain.
At 37 years old, he has won five IPL titles with Mumbai, securing championships in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020, making him the first captain to achieve this milestone. Additionally, he won one title with Deccan Chargers in 2009, making him the only player with six IPL trophies.
Rohit holds the record for most matches, most runs, and most wins for Mumbai in IPL history. Despite some controversies in 2024, the Indian captain will continue with the team in 2025, hoping to add even more achievements to his career.
Kieron Pollard
Kieron Pollard’s impact on the Mumbai Indians is unmatched. He played 211 matches for the team, scoring 3915 runs and taking 79 wickets. In the IPL alone, Pollard played 189 games for Mumbai, scoring 3412 runs at a strike rate of 147.32. His powerful batting, along with his bowling and excellent fielding, played a key role in MI’s success. Even after retiring, Pollard continues to support the team as their batting coach.
Pollard’s shoes have been hard to fill. Although Australia’s Tim David was brought in to replace him and performed well, Mumbai quickly realized that Pollard’s contribution was irreplaceable. This led them to bring back Hardik Pandya from Gujarat Titans.
Pollard is one of the few players to win five IPL titles. He also won two Champions League titles and is remembered as one of the best all-rounders in the Indian Premier League. Pollard joined Mumbai in 2009 and remained with the team until he retired in 2022.
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar and Mumbai Indians are like two sides of the same coin. Mumbai’s first captain and their most loved player, Sachin joined the team as an Icon player before the 2008 auction, signing for INR 4.4 crore, making him the third-most expensive player that season after MS Dhoni and Andrew Symonds. He stayed with the franchise until his retirement in 2013.
Sachin played 91 matches for Mumbai, including 78 IPL games, scoring a total of 2599 runs. He scored one century for the team and was the top run-scorer of IPL 2010, with 618 runs in 15 matches at a strike rate of 132.61, leading the team to the final, where they lost by 22 runs to Chennai Super Kings.
Since retiring, Sachin has remained a key part of the Mumbai Indians. He has served as a mentor and even recommended Rohit Sharma as captain in 2013, shaping the team’s future.
Lasith Malinga
Is Lasith Malinga the greatest bowler for Mumbai Indians? Many would say yes. Malinga played 139 games for Mumbai over 10 seasons, taking 195 wickets at an average of 19.22. He holds the record for the most wickets by an MI player, and his role in their four IPL championships is unforgettable. Especially in 2019, Malinga’s performance in the final match, defending just nine runs, helped Mumbai win against Chennai Super Kings by a single run.
For years, Malinga was the face of Mumbai’s bowling attack before passing the torch to Jasprit Bumrah. He also played a crucial role in mentoring Bumrah, who often credits Malinga for his guidance. Bumrah is currently 27 wickets behind Malinga’s record for most wickets by an MI player.
After retiring, Malinga joined Mumbai as a bowling coach, later moving to Rajasthan Royals before returning to Mumbai. He now holds the same role and aims to lead Mumbai to more victories after a few challenging seasons.
Jasprit Bumrah
Star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is currently the most valuable player for the Mumbai Indians. Known as India’s top seamer, he played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 win and helped the team qualify for the ODI World Cup 2023. Recognizing his importance, Mumbai Indians retained Bumrah for INR 18 crore ahead of the IPL 2025 mega-auction, making him their first choice.
The 30-year-old has played 136 IPL matches for Mumbai, taking 168 wickets. He was essential in all five of Mumbai’s IPL title wins and hopes to add more trophies before retiring. Notably, Bumrah was the top wicket-taker for the team in three title seasons, claiming 20 wickets in 2017, 19 in 2019, and 27 in 2020.
Bumrah has only ever played for Mumbai Indians, and it’s unlikely he’ll leave. Although there was talk about his exit before the 2025 season, MI showed their loyalty by making him the first retention, reflecting his strong bond with the team.