Mumbai Indians Retain Core Stars: MI Lock 20 Players Ahead of IPL 2026 Mini-Auction

Mumbai Indians have officially announced their retained squad for the IPL 2026 season, confirming that the five-time champions will enter the mini-auction with their established core intact. On November 15, 2025, MI revealed they have retained 20 players from their IPL 2025 squad while executing strategic trades to strengthen key positions. With the lowest auction purse in IPL history at just INR 2.75 crore, the Hardik Pandya-led franchise has signaled their confidence in continuity over wholesale changes after reaching Qualifier 2 last season.

The Retained Core: MI’s Superstar Foundation

Mumbai Indians’ retention strategy centered on preserving the experienced backbone that has defined their success over nearly two decades. The franchise retained their iconic quartet of Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav—four players who collectively represent India’s premier white-ball talent and Mumbai’s championship DNA.

MI’s Top-Tier Retained Players with Salaries

Jasprit Bumrah leads the retention list at INR 18 crore, reflecting his status as the world’s premier T20 bowler. His unique action, devastating yorkers, and ability to deliver in any match situation make him invaluable to MI’s championship aspirations. Bumrah’s consistency in both powerplay and death overs provides the franchise with unmatched bowling firepower.

Hardik Pandya, retained as captain at INR 16.35 crore, successfully silenced critics in IPL 2025 by leading Mumbai to Qualifier 2. His leadership style combines aggressive tactics with smart decision-making, while his dual role as explosive finisher and medium-pace bowler gives MI crucial flexibility in team composition.

Rohit Sharma, despite stepping down from captaincy, remains MI’s most important batsman at INR 16.30 crore. The man who led Mumbai to five IPL titles brings unparalleled experience, having played 18 IPL seasons. His ability to pace innings perfectly and accelerate when needed makes him irreplaceable at the top of the order.

Strategic Trades: MI’s Smart Pre-Auction Moves

Mumbai Indians executed three highly strategic trades before the retention deadline, addressing specific squad gaps without breaking the bank. These moves demonstrate the franchise’s shrewd approach to squad building, securing quality players at bargain prices.

MI’s Confirmed Trades for IPL 2026

Shardul Thakur’s acquisition for INR 2 crore represents excellent value for a proven Indian seam-bowling all-rounder. His ability to contribute with both bat and ball strengthens MI’s Indian core while providing crucial overs in the middle phases. Thakur’s experience in pressure situations adds depth to Mumbai’s pace attack alongside Bumrah and Boult.

Sherfane Rutherford joins from Gujarat Titans at INR 2.6 crore, directly addressing Mumbai’s finishing concerns from IPL 2025. The West Indian’s explosive power-hitting and ability to clear boundaries at will give MI the lower-order firepower they desperately needed. Rutherford holds the record for the highest sixth-wicket partnership in T20 Internationals—a 139-run stand with Andre Russell against Australia.

Mayank Markande returns to Mumbai Indians where he began his IPL career in 2018. The leg-spinner, acquired for just INR 30 lakh from KKR, provides a much-needed spin option. Across 37 IPL matches, Markande has claimed 37 wickets, offering quality control in the middle overs.

The Released Players: MI’s Calculated Cuts

Mumbai Indians released nine players ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, primarily targeting fringe players who didn’t feature regularly in the playing XI during IPL 2025. The releases free up minimal purse space but allow the franchise to maintain roster flexibility.

Released Players: Satyanarayana Raju, Reece Topley, KL Shrijith, Karn Sharma, Bevon Jacobs, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur, and Arjun Tendulkar (traded to LSG).

The most notable departure is Arjun Tendulkar, who moves to Lucknow Super Giants in an all-cash trade deal. The left-arm pacer, son of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, featured in five IPL matches since debuting in 2023 but struggled to establish himself in Mumbai’s loaded pace attack.

Reece Topley, the England left-arm seamer, also exits after limited opportunities. Similarly, Afghan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman and South African pacer Lizaad Williams—both overseas players who rarely featured in the XI—have been released as MI refines its foreign-player roster.

IPL 2025 Performance: Building on Success

Mumbai Indians secured a playoffs berth in IPL 2025 after finishing fourth in the league stage with eight wins and six losses, collecting 16 points. Their campaign ended in Qualifier 2 with a five-wicket defeat to eventual finalists Punjab Kings, but the season provided clear evidence that Hardik Pandya’s leadership transition was successful.

Suryakumar Yadav emerged as the standout performer, finishing as the second-highest run-getter of the season with 717 runs and earning the Player of the Tournament award. His consistency and ability to anchor innings while maintaining an aggressive strike rate proved crucial to MI’s playoff push.

The team’s performance validated the management’s decision to back their core while gradually integrating young talents like Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, and AM Ghazanfar into key roles.

Complete MI Retained Squad for IPL 2026

Mumbai Indians retained 20 players in total, maintaining one of the most stable squads heading into the mini-auction. The squad composition reflects a careful balance across all departments.

Batsmen (6): Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Ryan Rickelton, Robin Minz

All-rounders (5): Hardik Pandya (C), Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Will Jacks, Raj Angad Bawa

Bowlers (9): Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, AM Ghazanfar, Corbin Bosch, Mayank Markande, Ashwani Kumar, Raghu Sharma

The overseas contingent features seven players: Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, Will Jacks, Corbin Bosch, Sherfane Rutherford, Ryan Rickelton, and AM Ghazanfar. This provides MI with tactical flexibility to field different combinations based on pitch conditions and opposition.

Auction Strategy: Minimal But Targeted Approach

With just INR 2.75 crore remaining in their purse—the lowest among all ten franchises—Mumbai Indians will have an extremely limited role at the December 16 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi. The franchise has five available slots, including one overseas position, to fill in the auction.

MI’s priority targets at the auction include:

1. Indian Wicketkeeper-Batsman: With Robin Minz retained but unproven, Mumbai explored trading for Ishan Kishan from Sunrisers Hyderabad, though negotiations didn’t materialize. They may target an experienced Indian keeper in the auction pool.
2. Quality Indian Spinner: With only Mitchell Santner and Mayank Markande providing spin options, MI requires additional depth. An experienced Indian spinner who can operate in middle overs would balance the attack.
3. Backup Fast Bowler: While the pace attack looks formidable with Bumrah, Boult, Chahar, and Thakur, MI may seek one more Indian seamer to provide rotation options during the long season.

The minimal purse means MI will focus on uncapped Indian talents or players available at base prices who can fill specific roles without requiring significant investment.

Looking Ahead: Sixth Title Aspirations

Mumbai Indians enter IPL 2026 as one of the most settled franchises, with their retention strategy emphasizing continuity and targeted strengthening. The combination of proven superstars, exciting young talents, and strategic trade acquisitions positions MI as genuine title contenders.

If the franchise can address the wicketkeeping position and spin-bowling depth through smart auction picks, they possess all the ingredients necessary to challenge for a record sixth IPL championship. The leadership duo of Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma, supported by Bumrah’s world-class bowling and Suryakumar’s batting brilliance, provides the foundation for another successful campaign.

The December 16 mini-auction will reveal MI’s final squad composition, but their preparation and planning suggest a franchise confident in their ability to compete for the trophy when IPL 2026 begins.

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