A young boy from a small tribal village in Jharkhand, swinging a homemade wooden bat his father carved for him, dreaming of playing alongside his idol MS Dhoni. Early days to 2025, and that same boy is wearing the iconic blue and gold jersey of Mumbai Indians in the world’s richest cricket league.
Robin Minz’s story isn’t just about cricket, it’s about breaking barriers that seemed insurmountable, surviving a devastating accident that nearly ended everything, and rising again when the world least expected it. When Mumbai Indians purchased him for INR 65 lakh in the IPL 2025 auction and then retained him for IPL 2026, they weren’t just signing a cricketer. They were endorsing a dream that millions of tribal youth across India now dare to dream.
Robin Minz IPL Auction Price:
Robin Minz‘s IPL journey is a story of dramatic highs, devastating lows, and eventual redemption. Here’s how his contracts evolved:
| Year | Team | Auction/Retention | Base Price | Final Price | Status | Outcome |
| 2024 | Gujarat Titans | Auction | ₹20 lakh | ₹3.6 crore | Bought | Couldn’t play motorcycle accident |
| 2025 | Mumbai Indians | Auction | ₹30 lakh | ₹65 lakh | Bought | IPL debut made |
| 2026 | Mumbai Indians | Retention | Retained | Opportunity to establish himself |
IPL 2025 Auction: A Second Chance for Robin Minz
In the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24, 2024, Robin Minz was purchased by Mumbai Indians for INR 65 lakh. Following his IPL 2025 season, Mumbai Indians retained Robin Minz for IPL 2026, demonstrating the franchise’s faith in his potential and long term value. In a league where patience is rare and results are demanded immediately, this retention speaks volumes about what MI sees in Robin.
Key Auction Details (IPL 2025):
- Base Price: INR 30 lakh
- Final Price: INR 65 lakh
- Team: Mumbai Indians
- Auction Date: November 24, 2024
- Auction Location: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Bidding Teams: Chennai Super Kings (opening bid), Mumbai Indians (winning bid)
IPL 2026 Status:
- Status: Retained by Mumbai Indians
- Category: Uncapped player retention
- Significance: First retention after comeback from injury, a testament to MI’s belief in his future
Auction Price Drop from ₹3.6 crore to ₹65 lakh:
The dramatic fall from ₹3.6 crore to ₹65 lakh tells a story beyond numbers:
Why the Price Dropped:
- The Accident Factor: Missing an entire IPL season due to injury made franchises cautious
- Limited Match Experience: Had played only 2 first class matches and 7 T20s at senior level
- Uncertainty About Recovery: Questions about whether he’d regained full fitness and confidence
- Market Correction: The initial ₹3.6 crore was based on potential; the market now wanted proof
- Risk Assessment: Teams were unwilling to make a large investment without seeing him play post recovery
Why MI Still Invested:
- Talent Recognition: The raw ability that attracted GT for ₹3.6 crore hadn’t disappeared
- Value Proposition: At ₹65 lakh, the risk reward ratio was favorable
- Development Philosophy: MI has history of nurturing players who need patience
- Strategic Fit: Left handed wicketkeeper batsman filled a specific need
- Long term Thinking: Looking beyond immediate returns to future potential
Robin Minz: The Boy from Gumla Who Dared to Dream
Every cricketing nation has stories of young talents emerging from unexpected places. Robin Minz’s story is particularly special, a boy from a tribal family in Gumla, Jharkhand, who watched his father make him a wooden bat and harbored dreams that seemed impossible. Today, he’s not just an IPL cricketer; he’s the first from his community to break into cricket’s most lucrative league.
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Robin Minz |
| Date of Birth | September 13, 2002 |
| Age | 22 years (as of 2025) |
| Birthplace | Gumla, Jharkhand, India |
| Hometown | Namkum, Ranchi |
| Height | 5’9″ (175 cm) |
| Weight | 70 kg (154 lbs) |
| Role | Wicketkeeper Batsman |
| Batting Style | Left handed |
| Bowling Style | Left arm orthodox spin |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Education | Class 10 (chose cricket over further studies) |
The MS Dhoni Connection: More Than Just a Similarity
When people compare Robin Minz to MS Dhoni, it’s not just lazy journalism or wishful thinking. The connection runs deeper than most realize, and it’s a story that gives you goosebumps.
The Coach Who Shaped Legends:
Imagine being coached by the same person who mentored MS Dhoni during his formative years. That’s Robin’s reality. Chanchal Bhattacharya, the man who saw something special in a young Dhoni decades ago, now sees the same spark in Robin Minz.
Bhattacharya doesn’t throw comparisons around lightly. When he says, “Robin is what we call a hard hitter. He isn’t Dhoni yet, but when Dhoni first came to me, we saw that even if he scored just 10 runs, he would hit a six. Robin is the same. They are identical in that respect,” you sit up and take notice.
The Promise That Went Viral
Before the IPL 2024 auction, there was a moment at Ranchi airport that became the stuff of legend. Francis Xavier Minz, Robin’s father who works as a security guard at the same airport, met MS Dhoni. What Dhoni told him that day has been repeated in households across Jharkhand ever since:
“If no one picks him, we will.”
It wasn’t just words, it was Dhoni doing what he’s always done: supporting talent from Jharkhand, especially those from humble backgrounds. When Chennai Super Kings made the opening bid for Robin in IPL 2025, many believe Dhoni’s influence played a part.
What Makes the Comparison Valid?
| Similarity | MS Dhoni | Robin Minz |
| Origin | Ranchi, Jharkhand | Gumla, Jharkhand (near Ranchi) |
| Role | Wicketkeeper Batsman | Wicketkeeper Batsman |
| Batting Hand | Right handed | Left handed |
| Signature Shot | Helicopter shot | Helicopter shot |
| Playing Style | Aggressive, power hitting | Aggressive, power hitting |
| Background | Lower middle class family | Tribal family, humble background |
| Early Coach | Chanchal Bhattacharya | Chanchal Bhattacharya |
| Batting Strength | Death overs specialist | Death overs potential |
But here’s what’s different and what makes Robin’s story uniquely powerful: Dhoni fought class barriers; Robin is fighting both class and community barriers. He’s representing millions of tribal youth who’ve never seen someone like them in mainstream Indian cricket.
Robin Minz Career Statistics:
The numbers don’t tell Robin’s complete story, no statistic can capture the heartbreak of missing IPL 2024 or the courage of his comeback. But they do provide context for where he’s been and hint at where he’s going.
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | Highest Score | 50s/100s |
| IPL | 2 | 2 | 6 | 3.00 | 75.00 | 3 | 0/0 |
IPL Performance:
- Made debut March 23, 2025, vs CSK
- Scored 3 runs (not much, but it was HIS debut)
- Second match also limited opportunity
- The journey matters more than initial numbers
Why Robin Minz Retained by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2026?
In professional sports, especially in a results driven tournament like the IPL, patience is a luxury few franchises afford. Players are judged on immediate impact, not future potential. Which makes Mumbai Indians’ decision to retain Robin Minz for IPL 2026 all the more significant.
Robin had played just 2 IPL matches in 2025, scoring a total of 6 runs. By conventional metrics, this wasn’t retention worthy performance. But Mumbai Indians don’t make decisions based on conventional wisdom alone. They saw something beyond the numbers, raw talent waiting to be polished, mental resilience tested by adversity, and a hunger to prove himself.
Conclusion:
Cricket has always been more than just a sport in India, it’s emotion, passion, dreams, and hope wrapped in a 22 yard pitch. Robin Minz’s journey from Gumla to the IPL, through accident and comeback, rejection and retention, embodies everything beautiful about cricket’s power to transform lives.
His retention by Mumbai Indians for IPL 2026 isn’t just a contract, it’s a statement. It says that talent matters, but so does character. Those setbacks are temporary, but determination is permanent. That where you come from matters less than where you’re going. As Robin prepares for IPL 2026, his story continues to unfold.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Robin Minz was purchased by Mumbai Indians for INR 65 lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. While this was significantly lower than his previous contract, it represented a fresh start and an opportunity to rebuild his career after the 2024 accident.
Yes! In a show of faith and long term thinking, Mumbai Indians retained Robin Minz for IPL 2026 as an uncapped player.
The dramatic price drop wasn’t a reflection of lost talent, it was franchises being cautious after Robin missed the entire IPL 2024 season due to a motorcycle accident. The ₹65 lakh price reflected that uncertainty, not his ability. Mumbai Indians essentially took a calculated risk that’s already paying off with his retention.
Robin Minz plays for Mumbai Indians. He was bought by the five time IPL champions in the 2025 auction and has been retained for the 2026 season as well. MI has a proven track record of developing young Indian talent, making them the ideal franchise for Robin’s growth.
Robin is a left handed wicketkeeper batsman, primarily valued for his explosive batting ability. While his wicketkeeping skills are still developing, his main role is as a power hitter who can change games in a few overs.
No, they’re not related by blood, but they share an interesting connection. Both are from Jharkhand, both are wicketkeeper batsmen with aggressive styles, and incredibly, both were coached by Chanchal Bhattacharya.
Kiran is a cricket analyst and writer with strong expertise in the Indian Premier League and modern cricket. He closely follows match situations, player performances, team strategies, and season trends to deliver clear and accurate insights. Passionate about the game, Kiran enjoys exploring emerging talents, tracking auction movements, and sharing timely updates related to IPL and competitive cricket.
