The Mumbai Indians enter the IPL 2026 mini-auction with only ₹2.75 crore left. They continue with senior pillars Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav. They also retained important young players like Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Raj Angad Bawa, Robin Minz, and Ryan Rickelton. Their bowling group stays strong with Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, and Allah Ghazanfar.
The team released players such as Reece Topley, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Karn Sharma, and Lizaad Williams. In the trade window, they strengthened the squad by bringing in Shardul Thakur, Sherfane Rutherford, and Mayank Markande, while Arjun Tendulkar was traded out.
Arjun Tendulkar was traded from the Mumbai Indians to the Lucknow Super Giants before the 2026 IPL retention deadline. He moved for his existing fee of ₹30 lakh. MI had first picked him in the 2021 auction, and he made his debut in 2023. He has played five IPL matches and has taken three wickets with an economy rate of 9.37. MI thanked him and said they were proud to be part of his development.
At the same time, MI brought back Mayank Markande through a trade with the Kolkata Knight Riders. Markande joined MI again for his existing fee of ₹30 lakh. He earlier played for MI in 2018, 2019, and 2022 and has taken 37 wickets in 37 IPL matches.
MI now enter the 2026 IPL auction with a small purse of ₹2.75 crore, focusing mainly on filling minor gaps rather than major signings.
About the releases, the franchise said, “Mumbai Indians management extends their deepest gratitude to all the players and acknowledges their commitment and hard work during their time in the Blue and Gold and wishes them every success as they embark on their next chapter in professional cricket.”
What Players should the Mumbai Indians eye at the 2026 IPL Auction
Mumbai Indians (MI) enters the 2026 IPL mini-auction with the smallest purse of all franchises: a meager ₹2.75 crore. They have a strong core and have already made some smart trades, bringing in Shardul Thakur, Sherfane Rutherford, and Mayank Markande.
They have a full 20-player squad but still need to fill five more slots (including a maximum of 2 overseas slots) to reach the maximum limit of 25. The main gap is an additional overseas fast bowler because Boult is the only proven one, and the remaining overseas options are average.
MI released overseas pacers like Reece Topley and Lizaad Williams. They need a quick, cheap overseas option to serve as a backup for Trent Boult and a change of pace from Jasprit Bumrah. For that, MI could snatch Lungi Ngidi (Released by RCB) as a quality backup if he enters with a low base price. Naveen-ul-Haq is a strong option because he bowls well in the powerplay and at the death, and he could be available near the ₹1 crore range.
For Indian options, they can look at Ishan Mulchandani, who impressed in the Mumbai T20 2025 with 211 runs in seven games at a high strike rate while batting both as an opener and in the middle order. Chethan LR is another good choice, thanks to his strong Maharaja T20 League performances, scoring 299 runs in 12 matches.
MI Target Players 2026
| Player | Potential Role |
| Lungi Ngidi | Fast bowler |
| Naveen-ul-Haq | Fast bowler |
| Ishan Mulchandani | Batter |
| Chethan LR | Batter |
FAQs
Q. Will Rohit Sharma play in IPL 2026?
A. Yes. Rohit Sharma is retained by the MI for 2026 IPL.
Q. What is MI’s purse for 2026 IPL?
A. MI has spent ₹122.25 crore. Their remaining purse of ₹2.75 crore is what is left under the salary cap limit.
Q. Was Arjun Tendulkar bought by MI?
A. Yes. MI bought Arjun Tendulkar earlier, and he has played five IPL matches.
Q. How many players has MI retained for 2026?
A. The Mumbai Indians have retained 20 players for 2026 IPL.
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