IPL Auction 2025: 7 players Mumbai Indians could target using their remaining budget

The Mumbai Indians retained a stellar quintet of capped players, namely Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, Rohit Sharma and Tilak Varma. And with all of them being Indians, their focus will be on overseas players at the auction. Among those, fast bowlers, in particular, could pique their interest, given the conditions at the Wankhede Stadium.

Mumbai Indians remaining purse: Rs 45 crore

Player targets

Quinton de Kock

A wicketkeeper-batter who needs no introduction, and has been a part of MI’s title-winning sides. With them needing a wicketkeeper and an opening partner for Rohit, he fits the bill perfectly.

If he falls out of their budget, Kusal Mendis could be another alternative, especially now that Mahela Jayawardene is back at the helm.

Jitesh Sharma

It might be tougher to get Jitesh but he will help solve a few of Mumbai’s issues. He can function as a keeper, a finisher, and will enjoy the true tracks at the Wankhede Stadium. He has been in the MI environment in the past too and recently expressed his desire to play for the franchise.

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Marco Jansen

Like de Kock, Jansen has featured for MI in the IPL previously, and while he may be more sought-after than he was back then, he will give them an incisive left-arm option – something MI seem to value. Jansen is also a very capable hitter down the order and will add further muscle to a strong batting unit.

Trent Boult

Speaking of left-arm pacers, there are not many in the world better than Boult. That, of course, means he will be in demand, but Mumbai, because of the batting firepower they already have, can go all-in on the Kiwi quick.

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The fact that he has been playing for MI New York and MI Emirates highlights that the franchise still holds him in very high esteem.

Shardul Thakur

Thakur, despite playing his entire domestic career for Mumbai, has, funnily enough, never turned out for the Mumbai Indians. 2025 could be the year that materializes. His stock has gone down in the past couple of years, meaning that he may not command as tall a price as he did at the 2022 mega-auction, which could play into MI’s hands.

Rahul Chahar

Mumbai Indians have never been big on spinners, often relying on them to perform specific roles. Chahar once did that to perfection and bowled himself into India’s T20 World Cup squad in 2021. He may have other suitors but after struggling on the spin-bowling front, MI could be tempted to bring him back. If he is unattainable, Piyush Chawla, now qualifying as an uncapped player, is also an option.

Kagiso Rabada

A bowling attack featuring Bumrah and Rabada borders on outlandish fantasy. But MI could make this happen too, especially if they land their preferred uncapped and low-cost targets. Rabada has been playing for MI’s other franchises across the globe and could be the gun overseas pacer Mumbai Indians usually like having.

Budget fit

MI retained their full complement of capped players, meaning they only have INR 45 crore to work with. They also have only one RTM card, which can only be used for an uncapped player (Akash Madhwal, Naman Dhir, Nehal Wadhera and Chawla the obvious options). They will, thus, have to be very judicious with how they spend their money.

Thankfully for them, the five they have retained are bona-fide match-winners and they also have an exceptional scouting network, often plucking uncapped players out of nowhere and making them shine on the big stage.

With that to lean on, they might spend exorbitantly on overseas pacers, a foreign opener and possibly a capped Indian seamer. Whichever way they go, it seems unlikely they will spend a fortune on one player and leave themselves hamstrung in other areas.