Defending champions Mumbai Indians are understood to have decided to release the pair of Lasith Malinga and Sherfane Rutherford. Malinga, the leading wicket-taker in the IPL, had opted out of the 2020 season due to his father’s ailing health at the time.

West Indies batting allrounder Rutherford was bought by Mumbai via a trade with Delhi Capitals after the 2019 IPL in exchange for uncapped legspinner Mayank Markande. Rutherford had been bought by the Capitals in 2018 auction for INR 2 crore. However Rutherford did not feature in a single match during Mumbai’s dominant 2020 season. He had also struggled for form in CPL 2020 on the spin-friendly tracks in Trinindad.

Malinga was bought by Mumbai in 2019 for INR 2 crore, after the Sri Lankan bowling great sat out in 2018. He brought all his experience to deny the Super Kings the title with a superlative last over in 2019. It was the third time the Super Kings had fallen prey to Malinga having bowled successful final overs in 2013 and 2015 IPL finals to hand Mumbai the titles.