While the start of IPL 2026 is still a few months away, we are right in the thick of speculation season. That is because November 15 has been confirmed as the retention date for all teams. This means that by Saturday this week, each team needs to confirm the players they will retain for the upcoming season.
And so, just a few days before any confirmations, we will discuss the possible squads for the IPL teams, more specifically, who they will release ahead of the auction on December 15.
IPL 2026 Auction: Who Will Mumbai Indians Release Before IPL 2026?
Today, we will discuss who the Mumbai Indians will release before the IPL 2026 auction. First, let us look at their IPL 2025 squad, a team that finished fourth on the points table and made it to Qualifier 2.
Mumbai Indians IPL 2025 squad: Hardik Pandya (C) (R), Rohit Sharma (R), Suryakumar Yadav (R), Ryan Rickleton (Rs. 1 crore), Tilak Varma (R), Bevon Jacobs (Rs. 30 lakh), Shrijith Krishnan (Rs. 30 lakh), Robin Minz (Rs. 65 lakh), Will Jacks (Rs. 5.25 crore), Naman Dhir (Rs. 5.25 crore), Mitchell Santner (Rs. 2 crore), Raj Bawa (Rs. 30 lakh), Karn Sharma (Rs. 2 crore), Vignesh Puthur (Rs. 30 lakh), Allah Ghazanfar (Rs. 4.80 crore), Jasprit Bumrah (R), Trent Boult (Rs. 12.50 crore), Reece Topley (Rs. 75 lakh), Satyanarayana Raju (Rs. 30 lakh), Deepak Chahar (Rs. 75 lakh), Ashwani Kumar (Rs. 30 lakh), Arjun Tendulkar (Rs. 30 lakh), Lizaad Williams (Rs. 75 lakh)
Now, most of the highest-paid players in this squad are also some of the most crucial ones. The five retained players from last year are Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Jasprit Bumrah and will likely be retained again.
Trent Boult, despite being the most expensive buy for MI in the 2025 auction, will likely be retained as well. Some other big-money buys to be retained include a promising all-rounder, Naman Dhir, and English limited-overs specialist Will Jacks. And seeing the Mumbai Indian’s spin department is a little weak, Afghan all-rounder Allah Ghazanfar must be retained as well.
Another player that must be retained is Ryan Rickelton, who had a solid debut season in the IPL last year. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner is also an excellent addition to any IPL side.
There is one big-money buy that might enter the auction pool after being released, that being veteran all-rounder Deepak Chahar. His release will free up a hefty Rs. 9.25 crore in MI’s purse.
New Zealand batter Bevon Jacobs and South African pacer Lizaad Williams did not get enough playing time last season to justify them being retained. On the other hand, players like Karn Sharma and Reece Topley did get a few games but might also be on the chopping block.
Then we come to young Indian players. Pacers Satyanarayana Raju and Ashwani Kumar showed a lot of potential, with Ashwani being one of the best domestic pacers over the last year. Robin Minz is a great backup wicketkeeper, while Raj Bawa is a very promising young Indian all-rounder. Finally, Vignesh Puthur, despite missing most of the season due to injury, impressed in the limited time he got to play for MI.
That leaves players like wicketkeeper Shrijith Krishnan and pacer Arjun Tendulkar, who will likely be released as well.
And so, here are the players that have a high chance of entering the IPL 2026 auction pool who played for the Mumbai Indians in 2025:
Deepak Chahar, Karn Sharma, Bevon Jacobs, Lizaad Williams, Reece Topley, Shrijith Krishnan, and Arjun Tendulkar.
It must be mentioned that a few of the players named here might be retained by MI ahead of IPL 2026. Similarly, a few players expected to be retained might be released.
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