 "Mumbai Indians have all base covered but they might look to add a few backups. Image: Reuters")
The Mumbai Indians reached Qualifier 2 in the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but could not get to the final, meaning their dreams of an unprecedented sixth IPL title were quashed.
That said, their squad did not need a big overhaul and they have stuck to their guns ahead of the mini-auction. Hardik Pandya remains captain, with Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma all part of the side.
How does Mumbai Indians’ squad look currently?
World-class. Oozing quality and class everywhere. They have almost every base covered and their Indian contingent, in particular, is quite enviable, further bolstered by the arrival of Shardul Thakur on a trade.
There are not many holes to plug. And that is not a surprise after they came to within a game of the final in the 2025 edition. They may look for a few back-ups but that is pretty much it.
MI’s current squad: 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
Also Read: GT IPL Auction Strategy: Gujarat Titans squad gaps, possible targets and purse
IPL 2026 Auction: MI possible auction strategy
Purse remaining – Rs 2.75 crore; slots remaining – 5 (1 overseas)
Wait, watch and pounce. MI do not have oodles of cash to play with, meaning that they will enter the IPL 2026 auction with specific plans and targets. Their scouting network, over the years, has thrown up some incredible players and they might be reliant on that again.
As far as player roles are concerned, they might want a back-up for Ryan Rickelton (or basically a wicket-keeper). They could also be on the hunt for an Indian top-order batter and perhaps a left-arm pacer, just to ease Trent Boult’s workload, although they already have Ashwani Kumar – who impressed earlier in 2025 - in the squad.
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View AllIPL 2026 Auction: MI top targets
Jonny Bairstow
Bairstow was flown in as a replacement player late last season, and did okay, getting MI off to some blazing starts. He has looked in decent touch in the ongoing International League T20 (ILT20) too, where he is representing MI Emirates and batting at the top of the order.
His overall value has waned in the past couple of years, meaning that there may not be a lot of teams vying for him, thereby making him a solid purchase for MI – perhaps even at his base price of Rs 1 crore.
Jordan Cox
This might be slightly trickier to get across the line because Cox is starting to capture the imagination of the cricket-watching folk. Like Bairstow, he is a belligerent batter and can perform a variety of roles. He can be a back-up wicket-keeper too, and if asked to field, he can pull off moments of absolute genius, as his fielding catalogue would testify.
His base price is Rs 75 lakh, which should work in MI’s favour. But if a bidding war materializes, MI might have to back out, given they have only little to spend.
Atharva Taide
Taide has been a regular fixture for Vidarbha in domestic cricket, and in recent months, there have been signs that he is finally realizing his vast potential. His IPL numbers, accrued for the Punjab Kings and the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the past, are not very glitzy, but he could be an ideal back-up in the top order for MI.
Taide can also bowl a bit of left-arm spin, and given he scored 64 against Mumbai in a Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) game in November, MI might flirt with the idea of bringing him on board, especially with a base price of Rs 30 lakh.
Also Read: SRH IPL Auction Strategy: Sunrisers Hyderabad squad gaps, possible targets and purse
Tushar Raheja
Sticking to top-order batters, Raheja is another option for MI. He was the leading run-scorer in the Tamil Nadu Premier League this season and struck at more than 185. His run also included five fifties (in just nine innings). He is a wicket-keeper as well, and could end up solving a couple of issues for MI.
The problem, though, is that other teams may also be after him, owing to his recent displays. And it remains to be seen if MI get a crack at him for a price that is amenable to their budget.
Prithvi Shaw
This is where things get interesting. Shaw has had his run-ins with the Mumbai state team. But despite being born in Thane (part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region), he has never played for MI. Maybe, this is the year it all comes together.
Because of the chatter around him and his perceived work ethic (or lack thereof), a lot of teams may not want to take a chance. But his numbers in domestic cricket this season - mustered for Maharashtra - hint at a batter who is on a redemption arc, and chomping at the bit to prove his worth, all over again.
Sarfaraz Khan
Sarfaraz seems to be in a similar boat. He has been scoring runs in domestic cricket, but cannot seem to get anywhere close to the Indian Test side. It has been a while since he has played consistently in the IPL, but in SMAT appearances lately, he has illustrated he could be a viable top-order option.
Like most on this list, Sarfaraz can double up as a wicket-keeper, although he has not performed that gig very often and has done so only in emergencies. That, plus the upside to him finally living up to his tag, could be too hard to turn down for MI.
Chetan Sakariya
MI, as things stand, are not hard-pressed for left-arm seam-bowling options. Boult remains one of the best in the business, and Ashwani gave an excellent account of himself whenever called upon in the 2025 edition. But just in case MI need to omit Boult (for combination purposes), they would love having another Indian left-arm pacer.
And that is where Sakariya comes in. He can swing the new ball and can bowl at the death. His career trajectory has tailed off since his breakout season for the Rajasthan Royals in 2021, but being alongside Boult, Bumrah and MI’s other superstars could help propel him into the mix again, and give MI the flexibility usually associated with champion squads.