Instrumental players mature about current one (7)

I believe the answer is:

ripieni

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'instrumental players' is the definition.
'ripieni' can be an answer for 'players' (I have seen 'Extra players' mean 'ripieni' so perhaps 'players' could also mean 'ripieni'). I'm not sure about the 'instrumental' bit.

'mature about current one' is the wordplay.
'mature' becomes 'ripen' (to ripen is to mature).
'about' is an insertion indicator.
'current' becomes 'I' (symbol for electric current).
'one' becomes 'i' (Roman numeral).
'ripen' going around 'i' is 'ripien'.
'ripien'+'i'='RIPIENI'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for ripieni that I've seen before include "Accompanying groups" , "Extra players" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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