Mumbai Indians Owner Nita Ambani Reveals Scouting Secrets Behind Team’s Success
Mumbai, March 25, 2025 – Nita Ambani, the powerhouse behind the Mumbai Indians (MI), one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL), recently pulled back the curtain on the team’s remarkable talent scouting system. Speaking at an event in Boston last month, the Reliance Foundation Chairperson and MI owner shared captivating stories of how she discovered some of India’s biggest cricket stars, including Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, and Jasprit Bumrah, turning MI into what she proudly calls the “nursery of cricket in India.”
Ambani’s revelations shed light on the grit and determination that fueled the rise of these players from humble beginnings to international stardom. Recalling her early days scouting talent, she described a moment that defined MI’s approach to building a championship team. “In the IPL, we all have a fixed budget, so every team can spend a certain amount of money. We had to think about new ways of getting talent,” she said. “I used to go to every Ranji Trophy match, and my scouts and I would visit domestic cricket matches across the country.”
It was during one such scouting mission that she encountered the Pandya brothers—Hardik and Krunal. “One day, our scouts brought two young, lanky, thin boys to the camp,” Ambani recounted. “I was talking to them, and they said that for three years, they’d eaten nothing but Maggi noodles because they had no money. But in them, I saw the spirit, the passion, and the hunger to make it big.” That instinct paid off. In 2015, she acquired Hardik Pandya for just $10,000 at the IPL auction. Today, he stands as MI’s captain, a key all-rounder for India, and a symbol of the franchise’s knack for spotting diamonds in the rough.
The story didn’t end with the Pandyas. Ambani also revealed how MI unearthed Jasprit Bumrah, now regarded as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers. “The next year, our scouts found a young cricketer with an odd body language,” she said. “They told me, ‘Watch him bowl.’ We watched him, and he could just speak to the ball. That was our Bumrah, and the rest is history.” Bumrah’s unorthodox action and pinpoint accuracy have since powered MI to five IPL titles and cemented his status as India’s pace spearhead.
Ambani’s commitment to nurturing young talent extends beyond these household names. She highlighted Tilak Varma, a rising star who has broken into India’s T20I squad, as another success story. “Recently, we launched Tilak Varma, and now he’s a proud member of Team India,” she noted, underscoring MI’s ongoing mission to develop players for the national stage.
The Mumbai Indians’ scouting philosophy, driven by Ambani’s hands-on approach, has yielded a legacy of excellence. Since its inception in 2008, the franchise has clinched five IPL titles (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020), tying with Chennai Super Kings for the most in league history. Players like Rohit Sharma, who captained MI to all five triumphs, and Suryakumar Yadav, now India’s T20I captain, further illustrate the team’s knack for fostering world-class talent.
However, the 2024 IPL season was a rare stumble for MI, finishing at the bottom of the table with just four wins in 14 matches. Addressing the team after their final loss to Lucknow Super Giants, Ambani called it a “disappointing season” and hinted at a thorough review ahead of the 2025 mega auction. Despite the setback, her faith in the team’s core remains unshaken, as she wished Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah—set to represent India at the T20 World Cup—well, saying, “All Indians are cheering for you.”
As MI gears up for IPL 2025, Ambani’s revelations serve as a reminder of the franchise’s enduring strength: a scouting system that transforms raw potential into cricketing gold. With new talents like Naman Dhir and Robin Minz joining the fold at the recent auction in Jeddah, and veterans like Trent Boult returning, the “MI Paltan” fanbase is buzzing with anticipation. “Paltan, this is our team, Mumbai’s team,” Ambani said in Marathi. “Your support is our biggest strength. Let’s play together and win it for the One Family!”
For now, Nita Ambani’s legacy as a visionary leader in cricket continues to grow, one scout, one player, and one title at a time. Whether MI can reclaim their throne in 2025 remains to be seen, but if history is any guide, the “nursery of cricket” is far from done producing champions.
