Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani feels adding to their pace bowling stocks will further strengthen Mumbai Indians.

The defending champions, who have won the IPL on four occasions, roped in New Zealand spearhead Trent Boult and Aussie quick Nathan Coulter-Nile in Thursday’s auctions.

Mumbai Indians already have match winners in the form of Jasprit Bumrah and Lasith Malinga. Yet, they had come specifically to get more fast bowlers, said Nita.

“Yes. We were looking to buy fast bowlers. Bowlers win you matches.

“In 2017 and this year, it was our bowlers who won us the close matches. Who can forget Malinga’s last over in the (final of the) last edition (versus Chennai Super Kings). I think we are very happy with our bowling picks,” she said after the auction.

Mumbai Indians also roped in hard-hitting Aussie opener Chris Lynn. That too, at his base price.

“Acchha hai na? (Good, isn’t it?)… We have a great player in the form of Lynn and I am really excited about having him in our team.

“Honestly, we are thrilled… I believe we have all bases covered. Whatever we came looking for, I think we have covered all those points,” Nita said.

Saurabh Tiwary, one of the main batsmen of the Jharkhand team, also made a comeback to the Mumbai Indians squad. “I think Mumbai Indians has always believed in giving opportunities to players. We are happy to welcome back Saurabh and Mohsin (Khan),” the team owner said.

Asked if it were Australian players who dominated the auction, Nita replied: “I think many teams kind of look at them.

“It’s not about Australians, it’s about talent that the teams are looking for and what slots are fitting in.”

She also spoke to BCCI president Sourav Ganguly on the sidelines of the auction. “I spoke to Sourav, but we were talking as a friend. That’s all,” Nita said.

Her son Akash too was bullish on Mumbai Indians’ picks from this auction. For Mumbai Indians, it was “critical” to get both Lynn and former Kolkata Knight Riders pacer Coulter-Nile.

“We had identified the seven slots that we wanted to fill. It was very critical for us to get Lynny and Coulter-Nile,” Akash said. “Saurabh has been with us in the past. So, we are quite happy with our buys.”

Releasing players, Akash added, is the most difficult part of the IPL as Mumbai Indians had to take some key and at the same time tough decisions. Injuries to players were also a reason behind it.

“Releasing players is the most difficult part of the IPL, especially as last year we were champions. We took some decisions, as injuries were a big concern.

“We left and traded out 12 players this season. That’s the most that Mumbai Indians has ever done in last five-six years. But they were the toughest decisions,” Akash explained.