Mumbai Indians (MI) have signed English fast bowler Richard Gleeson to replace South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs. The change comes at a time when Rickelton is set to leave for international duty for South Africa’s World Test Championship final against Australia. Signing Gleeson is an indication that Mumbai are making an effort to strengthen their squad in the middle of the tournament.
Who is Richard Gleeson ?
Richard is 37 years old and has played many high-pressure cricket matches. Richard is no stranger to the cricket world. Although he made his international debut later than most players, he is considered a reliable T20 bowler. Gleeson made headlines with his T20I debut against India in July 2022. He managed to dismiss three of the biggest names in international cricket—Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Rishabh Pant—in a very short span of time. Not surprisingly, his incredible 3/15 record in that match caught a lot of eyes on him.
Gleeson had already established himself in England’s domestic arena before stepping onto the international stage. He has played for Northamptonshire and Lancashire in county cricket and has featured in franchise leagues like The Hundred and Abu Dhabi T10. His blistering pace and prowess at generating unusual bounce earned him the chance to represent the county at two different levels. His unmatched accuracy and ability to create crucial wickets during the middle innings resembled the carvings chiselled out by sculptors during moments of creative flow.
Why did MI choose Richard Gleeson ?
Mumbai Indians’ selection of Gleeson comes down to what he brings in terms of adaptability, experience, and travel heaviness. Gleeson’s prior stints will be handy for Mumbai. Experience comes into play towards the end of the tournament in IPL. Most teams would be facing some injury concerns or internationals being on call. This, coupled with the fact that their squad depth is unreliable, makes Mumbai lean towards players whose reliability is tested.
Gleeson is a versatile bowler who can contribute significantly to MI’s attack with Bumrah in the lead. Gleeson can help in the powerplay while also being dependable in the death overs. His skillset is valuable on Indian pitches, especially when the ability to change speeds and deliver with precision on pace is critical. This transforms him from just a bowler into a key part of the MI bowling unit.
The nature of the tournament’s schedule influences the reasoning for this signing as well. Mumbai’s strategy when facing certain opponents could be enhanced by Gleeson’s experience with diverse English and UAE pitches.
MI’s IPL 2025 Journey So Far
Mumbai Indians have managed to claw their way back into the competition in IPL 2025 by winning six matches in a row, earning a total of 14 points from 12 matches. After two more matches which are must wins, one against Delhi Capitals, they stand a chance to inverse the playoff spots in search of the final playoff berth. Tremendous efforts from Surya kumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah have consolidated their position, while the addition of Richard Gleeson has added to their bowling strength for the crucial last segment of the season.
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