Mumbai make the most of IPL transfers

Though there was little movement during the month-long Indian Premier League trading window...

Though there was little movement during the month-long Indian Premier League trading window,which closed on Thursday,the Mumbai Indians made the most of the opportunity to tweak their squad for the second season,adding Zaheer Khan,Shikhar Dhawan and Jaydev Shah to their ranks in place of Robin Uthappa,Ashish Nehra and Gaurav Dhiman.

Left-arm pacer Nehra was traded for Delhis left-handed batsman Dhawan,while middle-order bat Uthappa was swapped for Bangalores Zaheer. Their only new signing during the window was Shah,who was with the Rajasthan Royals last year. Mumbai Indians also held on to last years late signing West Indian all-rounder Dwayne Bravo.

Though the franchise are free to sign domestic players,the IPL buzz will intensify next month when the auctions take place in Goa on February 6. With top England stars available for 21 days,owners are weighing their options with the likes of Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff hitting the market.

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In another development,Rajasthan Royals pacer Pankaj Singh will play for Bangalore Royal Challengers in the second season. Three young Aussies will also be making their IPL debuts. David Warner and Andrew MacDonald have joined the Delhi Daredevils,while Ryan Harris has signed with the Deccan Chargers.

The Kolkata Knight Riders replacement players from 2008,Ajantha Mendis and Brad Hodge,have signed long-term contracts,as has Sri Lankas Chamara Kapugedera with the Chennai Super Kings.