Mumbai Indians Take 1st Step To Create Own Vaibhav Sooryavanshi With RR Swap

Mumbai Indians rope in crucial Rajasthan Royals member [Source: AFP]The Mumbai Indians franchise has roped in Zubin Bharucha from the Rajasthan Royals camp ahead of next year’s IPL 2027 season. The five-time title winning management has appointed Zubin as their new Director of Performance of the team. As per his newfound role with the Mumbai Indians, the 56-year-old will be expected to coordinate with the current multi-disciplinary leadership group across all performance disciplines within the MI ecosystem, as confirmed by the franchise itself. It is worth noting that Bharucha is also widely praised for being the one who spotted Rajasthan Royals wonderkid and teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.Zubin Bharucha switches from RR to MI ahead of IPL 2027Zubin Bharucha has jumped from the Rajasthan Royals to Mumbai Indians to join the latter of the two franchises as their new Director of Performance. Also Read- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Gives Bold '4-Word' Reply On The Bowler He Fears The MostThe Mumbai Indians franchise also dropped an official press release to confirm the same on Saturday, August 22. The franchise stated that Bharucha will join the Mumbai Indians support staff to “build on Mumbai Indians’ approach to deliver unparalleled success in player development.”Who is Zubin Bharucha?Zubin Bharucha is a former Mumbai and Surrey cricketer, who played 17 first class matches and 11 List A games during his playing days between the years 1992 and 1996.Interestingly, he is widely credited for recognizing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during his time with the Rajasthan Royals coaching staff in the IPL. While speaking on Cricinfo earlier this year, Bharucha recalled the time when he first met with Sooryavanshi during a Rajasthan Royals trials. He added that the teenager left him surprised at a young age itself by hitting bowlers who could “crank it up to 158 kph”.Zubin Bharucha’s find ended up doing wonders for the Rajasthan Royals, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi winning the ‘Orange Cap’ in the IPL 2026 season this year with a sensational run.Why Mumbai Indians need a Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of its ownBy roping in Zubin Bharucha as their new Director of Performance, the Mumbai Indians franchise seems to have taken the first step in the hope of acquiring a Vaibhav Sooryavanshi of its own.It is worth noting that the five-time title winning franchise is yet to lift a single trophy since securing the 2020 edition of the tournament in the UAE.Ever since Hardik Pandya took over as captain before IPL 2024, the franchise has managed to reach the knockouts just once when they lost to Punjab Kings in the IPL 2025 playoffs. The once-celebrated team seems to be struggling with its batting line-up, especially their top-order with the likes of Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav not scoring runs in the same volume as they would have desired. With Bharucha now tasked with strengthening Mumbai Indians’ player-development pipeline, the franchise will hope his proven eye for young talent can unearth its very own Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.Also Read- Mitchell Starc Joins Elite Club: Bowlers With First-Ball Wicket In 1st Test At A Venue