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Okay, that's all we have for you from another mad evening Dubai. We have filled all our eight spots, plugged our gaps, bought the missing puzzle pieces. Bring on the IPL already, please. While we leave you from this section, there's just too much content for you to read and consume on our website. So until we see you on another tab, ta ta!! 

8:55 PM IST: And, that's a wrap! Admissions to the Class of 2024 is now CLOSED. The last entrant is all-rounder Shivalik Sharma who is snapped up for his base price. A left-arm wrist spinner is always a delicous prospect to have, and he's just that! 

8.	Shivalik Sharma - The Baroda mystery spinner! 20 lakhs INR

8:50 PM IST: Locked and sealed. Our overseas roster is now complete with the arrival of Mohammad Nabi. What does he bring to the fold? A handy skillset with spin bowling, a vital option with the bat in the lower order. Join us in saying hello to the veteran all-rounder.

7.	Mohammad Nabi - Our first Afghan player! 1.5 crore INR

8:30 PM IST: Right then, one final session remains. An accelerated round with the unsold players coming back for a second chance. Here's where MI stand: 2.75 crore INR remain in the purse, and two slots remain - one Indian, one overseas. Come on Paltan, give us one final push! 

Here's Mahela Jayawardene, in a chat with JioCinema about Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, the captaincy transition, and a message for the MI fans. Read it here .. 

Mark Boucher, the Mumbai Indians Head Coach, shares his thoughts on the newest leg-spinner in the stable, "We believe Shreyas (Shreyas Gopal) will be a very good backup to Piyush (Piyush Chawla). Piyush bowled well for us last season and we know he's going to be back at it."

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7:50 PM IST: Not one, but two talents signed on board! All-rounders Naman Dhir and Anshul Kamboj were bagged for their base price.

6.	Anshul Kamboj - The young Haryana pace sensation! 20 lakhs INR
5.	Naman Dhir - A part of Punjab's SMAT winning squad! 20 lakhs INR

7:43 PM IST: Signing #4. Some say he is the successor of Lasith Malinga, given he bowls with a similar bowling action. He bowls with a promise and that is what pushed us to win a bidding war with Royal Challengers Bangalore for the young speedster. Slingaaaaaa is back!!

4.	Nuwan Thushara - More Sri Lankan firepower! 4.8 crore INR

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7:15 PM IST: Time to switch up! The accelerated auction has now commenced. Paltan, any suggestions for us? Let us know in the comments.

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Here's MI's Global Head of Cricket, Mahela Jayawardene speaking to Mumbai Indians on the buys: 

"I was hoping we would get these two (Gerald Coetzee and Dilshan Madhushanka). They were our targets. Surprised at the price they went for, given both of them are highly skillful players. Both players had good experiences with the World Cup in Indian conditions, and it was a a skillset we were looking for - a left-arm fast bowler and a South African bowler." -- Mahela's initial reaction to our two new fast bowling recruits

"Together, they will complement Bumrah (Jasprit Bumrah) really well when we utilize Bumrah in different situations and scenarios and make the best out of him. Plus, Jason (Jason Behrendorff) is a very experienced left-armer who has been consistent so we are adding young guys into a very experienced bowling unit. Not to forget Madhwal (Akash Madhwal) who came out pretty last season for us and for him to continue the same." - MJ on Coetzee and Madhushanka adding spice and energy to our current bowling arsenal

"I think Lasith (Lasith Malinga) will enjoy working with Dilshan. He is a big fan of Dilshan and Coetzee as well. I think when you have these exciting young talents and you feed them (with experience and knowledge) of Jasprit and Lasith, who understand how you need to go with playing IPL cricket, it will be benificial for them." - Mahela on the new signings working with Lasith Malinga

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6:33 PM IST: It may have taken an hour for us to buy, but this one's sure to bring a smile on your face -- Shreyas Gopal, once with MI as a young and upcoming leggie, IS BACK! Remember the iconic game against RR where Aditya Tare smashed that six, yeah, Shreyas was playing that for us. He's older, he's smarter, he's more skilled, he's deadlier, and he's come back in some sort of a steal you'd think: at his base price of 20 lakhs INR.

3.	Shreyas Gopal - Back in the bay, back in the Blue and Gold! 20 lakhs INR

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5:15 PM IST: The auction resumes with uncapped batters in the fray. Here's MI status at the moment - Six slots left (two foreign players, four Indian players) and 8.15 crore left in the purse. Do you think we will go aggressive in this round?

Happy to make the Paltan's wish come true

Lunch time! The capped players are done. Everybody needs a few minutes to breathe, and the Auction will take a short break. We’ll be back, with the uncapped players. Who’s the next to-be-millionaire waiting to break the bank?

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3:53 PM IST: A Sri Lankan pacer at MI? How long have we missed this? Dilshan Madushanka, a new gem spotted at the 2023 ODI World Cup, will now learn the tricks and trade from his predecessor Lasith Malinga. Welcome to Mumbai Indians!

2.	Dilshan Madushanka - A Sri Lankan powerplay specialist joins the Fa-MI-ly! 4.6 crore INR

And that's not all. History was made by his compatriot and captain Pat Cummins for the most expensive IPL player, but Starc superseded it. He was purchased for an ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT of 24.7 crore INR by Kolkata Knight Riders.  

Mitchell Starc is in action!!! Whether it is the pitch, or the auction room, he’s setting it on fire. We are right in the mix of it! Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals are involved in an intense battle. From 2 crore to 9.80 crore, phew, it just flew, much like his deliveries. But that’s it, we pull out!

3:25 PM IST: It's the bowlers set at the moment and we have seen some bidding wars already. It's just a matter of time till you see us in action, Paltan. Patience.

2:45 PM IST: The all-rounders set is done, and we move on to the wicket-keepers. Paltan, tell us who would you like to see in the Blue and Gold at IPL 2024?

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2:17 PM IST: HERE WE GO! We build on the love affair with South African talents with the arrival of Gerald Coetzee. Nicknamed the 'Next Dale Steyn', Coetzee wears his heart on his sleeve whenever he takes the field and that is every ounce in a player who dons the iconic Blue and Gold.

1.	Gerald Coetzee - The first MI player purchased for 2024! 5 crore INR

Woah! WOAHHHHHH! 20 crore 50 lakhs. We repeat, 20.50cr! That's what Pat Cummins is sold for. History is made, the most expensive IPL buy in history, by some distance! 

12:35 PM local time | 2:05 PM IST: THE PADDLE IS UP FOR THE FIRST TIME. The all-rounder's set is in process, and went neck-to-neck with Chennai Super Kings for Pat Cummins up till 4.8 crore INR. It's coming, it's coming. Hang in there. 

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12:10 PM local time | 1:40 PM IST: So the batters' set is done and a couple of them have become millionaires. No bid from us, FOR NOW. We are keeping our cards close to our chests, Paltan.. Let's be patient, shall we! We know how we've made some masterstroke buys in recent auctions and it is only a matter of time before we kick things off.

Right then, Rovman Powell is the first name out of the hat, oh, and he's breaking the bank already. 7.4cr INR in his kitty, drawing a bidding war between Kolkata Knight Riders and the Rajasthan Royals. Okay, RR have snapped him up. Wow, this is some start! 

11:30 AM local time | 1:00 PM IST: Chala Paltan, suru karuya.. Ganpati Bappa Moryaa

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A little throwback here

First glimpse of today's venue

* Players retained: 17

* Slots remaining: Eight (four Indians, four foreigners)

* Purse Remaining: 17.75 cr INR

In case you are wondering what to expect, how many players are going under the hammer, the rules, the budget, we have it all covered here. Having said that, there have been some memorable moments where we have stood tall, fought till the end and won the race to sign the most exciting players at the IPL Auction. Spoiler alert: We broke the bank to recruit them.

Expect a royal rumble to draft in the best cricket names on the planet. Why? Because a total of 333 players are available in the ring, with 214 Indian cricketers and 119 overseas talents seemingly on the horizon of finding a new home in the most prominent T20 competition on the planet. And Paltan, we’re all ears, and we’re taking notes. Go on, tell us your wishlist! Tell us who you want to see in the Blue and Gold. Who do we welcome into the #Onefamily?

Kasa kai Mumbai! Or this is what we should be saying - Marhaban Mumbai! Right, we are in Dubai for what is surely the most exciting, looked-forward-to, anticipated, awaited, day of the year - THE IPL AUCTION 2024!!!