MI has become synonymous with great legacies as far as becoming one of the most successful IPL franchises in talent scouting is concerned. MI has been able to create history off the field as well through its scouting system which has identified and nurtured young talents who later turned out to be international stars. MI's strategic player identification has set such a gold standard that other franchises were inspired to come up with such systems. MI has invested heavily in scouting networks that function throughout the year instead of relying solely on participating in auctions in the Indian Premier League. This network follows closely all domestic and foreign tournaments to spot untapped talent. The scouting team looks beyond statistics considering a player's temperament and capacity to perform under pressure. For IPL 2025, the MI scouting team discovered another star-Ashwani Kumar. The left-arm pacer made a dream debut against the Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium, taking four key wickets and winning the Player of the Match award. Ashwani Kumar, while impressively executing his death-over bowling in the Sher E Punjab T20 Trophy, was thus acquired by MI for INR 30 lakh at the IPL auction. Otherwise, he had already played a few domestic matches for Punjab before this year of opportunity in the IPL. Vignesh Puthur from Kerala is another exciting addition this season and grabbed everyone's attention on debut by taking three wickets against Chennai Super Kings. His performance drew the attention of experts even in MI's loss. Former India pacer TA Sekar was the first to notice his talent, and though he hasn't had much domestic exposure, he managed to get a 30-lakh IPL contract through MI's trials. In order to better his skills, he has been sent to train with MI Cape Town in South Africa by the franchise. Also Read: Cricket Australia announces central contracts, BGT heroes makes the cut MI scouts internationally as well, as they did with Bevon Jacobs from New Zealand, a middle-order batter who was an ideal candidate for MI's role as a finisher. Jacobs' topsy-turvy performances in the Super Smash 2023-24, including a staggering 188.73 strike rate for Canterbury Kings, made him the perfect option for MI's finishing role. Originally from South Africa, Jacobs attracted the attention of John Wright, who recommended him to MI because of his aggressive style. Mumbai Indians' process of scouting talent: MI initiates its scouting process by tracking future stars in the domestic tournaments of India like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy and Ranji Trophy. An elite scouting team including former cricketers such as Kiran More, Abey Kuruvila, TA Sekar, Parthiv Patel and John Wright closely follows such talents for seasons before referring to MI for trial. Also Read: 'You can't get away with average numbers': Vaughan on Rohit's MI spot Well, once a player gets shortlisted, this is the step that the data team of MI takes; it studies the performance of a player as per the statistics which involve strike rate, variations in bowling technique, fitness, and even the mental toughness of an individual. It is those players who are called for MI training camp and evaluated by Head Coach, Director of Cricket Operations, and senior-most players. The last selection is contingent upon the approval of its leadership group, which comprises the captain and the owners. Only after successfully passing through all these stages would MI go ahead with the signing of a player. MI has helped other Indian cricket stars launce their careers over the years, including Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Tilak Varma. While other franchises such as the Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Delhi Capitals have established scouting systems, none have matched MI's consistency in identifying world-class players. Munichs scout, with coverage worldwide, using its experienced former cricketers in important roles with a data-based strategy, has no parallel in the IPL.