The Wankhede crowd is set to roar again as the Indian Premier League (IPL 2026) returns for another successful season with Mumbai Indians (MI) eyeing a record sixth title. Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, MI produced a remarkable turnaround in the 2025 season and made it to the playoffs despite managing to win only one of their first five matches.
However, a sixth title remained elusive as a five-wicket defeat to Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2 ended their campaign. After another season, Mumbai are now focusing on rebuilding for the future with the aim of assembling a squad capable of ending their six-year title drought – the longest streak in their history.
With the IPL retention date set for SaturdayOn November 15, the Mumbai Indians don’t have many holes to fill, so expect to be relatively inactive on the deadline day.
Mumbai made some smart purchases in the auction despite having a limited wallet. However, not every signing lived up to expectations. One of the biggest disappointments of the season was Deepak Chahar who was bought for Rs 9.25 crore. The right-arm seamer has been used to boost the already formidable pace attack of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Bouult, who are renowned for their brilliant performances at the Wankhede Stadium.
However, Chahar has failed to justify his hefty price tag, claiming just 11 wickets from 14 innings while conceding runs at an economy rate of 9.17.
TROUBLE WITH SPINNING?
Another weak link in the Mumbai Indians campaign was Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, who was signed for 2 million rupees as a replacement for the injured Allah Ghazanfar. The MI management struggled to fit Mujeeb into their playing mix and he featured in just one match conceding 28 runs in two overs. Given Ghazanfar’s spin factor, MI are expected to retain him and release Mujeeb before the IPL 2026 auction.
Left-arm seamer Reece Topley, bought for Rs 75 lakh during the IPL 2025 mega auction, also failed to find a place in the playing eleven and featured in just one match. The MI management could consider releasing the England pacer to free up funds and explore other options at the auction table.
Another key area of concern for the five-time champions is death bowling, where Jasprit Bumrah has lacked reliable support. Strengthening this department will likely be a top priority for the auction.
Meanwhile, the spin unit looks well balanced with the experience of Mitchell Santner complemented by the youthful exuberance of Allah Ghazanfar and Vignesh Puthur. Additionally, the part-time rotation of Will Jacks adds additional depth and balance to the squad, giving MI a solid foundation for next season.
HOLD AND RELEASE POSSIBLE
Possible detention: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, Raj Bawa, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Ashwani Kumar, Robin Minz, Raghu Sharma, Krishnan Shrijith, Karn Sharma, Allah Ghaz
Potential release: Cast: Deepak Chahar, Reece Topley, Bevon Jacobs, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
TOP THREE GOALS
Jonny Bairstow: MI signed the seasoned England opener as a stand-in for the latter stages of IPL 2025. However, the experienced wicketkeeper-batsman was not available for retention. With his wealth of experience and proven match-winning abilities, Bairstow could be a valuable addition as a back-up for Ryan Rickelton, especially after Robin Minze’s stunning performances could see him released before next season.
However, budget constraints could pose a challenge for MI in their pursuit of the England star, perhaps prompting them to consider domestic alternatives.
Ben Dwarshuis: The Australian left-arm fast bowler, who was in fine form against India in the recently concluded T20I series, could be the preferred choice as Trent Bouult’s back-up in the Mumbai Indians XI. If Rajasthan Royals release Nandre Burger, MI maybe for him.
Shams Mulani: The Ranji Trophy hero from Mumbai, who can also bat, can be a handy local spin-bowling option for Mumbai Indians. The five-time champions would like to reduce their reliance on overseas spinners.
– The end
Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
November 11, 2025
