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The Mumbai Indians are known for doing things differently. While most teams are waiting for the auction day to build their main squad, the 5-time champions have done the heavy lifting early. MI had been incredibly active in the trade window, swapping players and securing seasoned campaigners to strengthen their core.
Also Read: CSK IPL 2026 Mini Auction strategy: Massive rebuild incoming?
As we approach the IPL 2026 Mini Auction, Mumbai looks less like a team searching for answers and more like a team ready to hit the ground running. Here is a look at how the Mumbai Indians squad shapes up ahead of the auction.
MI Players released/traded out
Arjun Tendulkar (traded to LSG), Bevon Jacobs, Karn Sharma, Lizaad Williams, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Reece Topley, Krishnan Shrijith, Satyanarayana Raju, Vignesh Puthur
MI Players retained/traded in
Shardul Thakur (traded in from LSG), Sherfane Rutherford (traded in from GT), Mayank Markande (traded in from KKR), AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Santner, Naman Dhir, Raghu Sharma, Raj Bawa, Robin Minz, Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Will Jacks
Auction Purse and Slots
Purse remaining: INR 2.75 crore (Out of INR 125 crore)
Slots remaining: 5 (1 overseas)
Do the Mumbai Indians have a squad capable of winning IPL 2026?
Looking at the team sheet, the short answer seems to be a clear-as-water "yes." MI has managed to conduct a holistic review of their failures from the previous season and plugged the chinks in their armour before the auction hammer even falls. The return of Shardul Thakur gives them a golden arm in the middle overs, while bringing back Mayank Markande solves their spin issues with Mitch Santner in there too. When you add Sherfane Rutherford to a batting lineup that already features Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma, the firepower is frightening.
They also have a dream pace attack with Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult leading the charge, flanked by Deepak Chahar. Corbin Bosch, meanwhile, is the perfect replacement for Boult. The management has been smart to rely on trades rather than risking a bidding war at the auction. By securing proven performers early, they have removed the uncertainty that comes with a mini-auction.
They have all their bases covered: explosive opening batting, a solid middle order, world-class finishing, and a bowling attack that can dominate in all phases of the game. It is rare to see a team look this complete before the final squad is even announced.
With only INR 2.75 crore left in the bank, do not expect any fireworks from the Mumbai table during the auction. Their strategy will likely be very low-key. They will probably look to buy 2-3 promising domestic players at their base price. The goal will be to take these youngsters under their wing, let them train with the legends in the dressing room, and groom them for the future. Mumbai doesn't need starters; they just need a few backups to round off what looks like a title-contending squad.
