by Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians are gearing up for another title challenge in IPL 2026. After reaching Qualifier 2 last season, MI have made smart early moves in the trade window.
The Hardik Pandya-led squad finished strong in IPL 2025 but fell short in the knockout stages. Now, the franchise is focused on fixing its weak areas before the mini-auction.
Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 Retained & Released Players List
Let’s dive into Mumbai Indians’ complete retained and released players list, official trade updates, and their strategic plans for IPL 2026.
Did You Know? Delhi Capitals IPL 2026 Retained & Released Players List
MI’s Journey to IPL 2026
Mumbai Indians had a solid IPL 2025 campaign under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya. They secured a playoff spot but lost in Qualifier 2 to the Punjab Kings.
Despite having superstars like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav, MI couldn’t finish the job. Their death bowling lacked consistency at crucial moments.
Key Issues from IPL 2025
MI identified three major problems after reviewing last season:
- Inconsistent death bowling – They leaked runs in the final overs of tight matches
- No strong Indian wicketkeeper – Lack of a reliable domestic keeper-batsman hurt the balance
- Weak spin backup – Injury to key spinners exposed their depth issues
For IPL 2026, MI’s management wants to strengthen pace depth, add finishing power, and improve middle-order stability.
MI IPL 2026 Retained Players – Complete List
Mumbai Indians retained their core group while making two strategic trade additions. They’ve built one of the most balanced squads heading into the auction.
Batters & Wicketkeepers
- Rohit Sharma – Senior leader and opening batsman
- Suryakumar Yadav – Middle-order match-winner
- N. Tilak Varma – Young left-hander with massive potential
- Jonny Bairstow – Retained overseas wicketkeeper-batsman
- Ryan Rickelton – Versatile South African keeper-batter
- Robin Minz – Domestic batting talent
- Shrijith Krishnan – Young wicketkeeper option
- Sherfane Rutherford – Traded in from the Gujarat Titans for ₹2.6 crore
All-Rounders
- Hardik Pandya – Captain and premier all-rounder
- Naman Dhir – Emerging domestic all-rounder
- Raj Angad Bawa – Young seam-bowling all-rounder
- Mitchell Santner – Experienced Kiwi spinner-batsman
- Shardul Thakur – Traded in from Lucknow Super Giants for ₹2 crore
- Corbin Bosch – South African pace-bowling all-rounder
Bowlers
- Jasprit Bumrah – World’s best pacer and death-overs specialist
- Trent Boult – New Zealand swing legend
- Mayank Markande – Traded from Kolkata Knight Riders
- Deepak Chahar – Key Indian pacer, earlier release rumors dismissed
- Karn Sharma – Experienced leg-spinner
- Allah Ghazanfar – Young Afghan mystery spinner
- Ashwani Kumar – Domestic pace option
- Vignesh Puthur – Backup fast bowler
Important Note: MI will continue backing overseas stars Bosch, Rickelton, and Bairstow alongside their retained Indian core.
Deepak Chahar stays with MI despite early speculation about his release. The management showed faith in the swing bowler’s abilities.
MI IPL 2026 Released Players – Official List
Mumbai Indians cleared several roster spots to improve squad balance and free overseas slots. Eight players have been released or moved.
| Player Name | Reason for Release |
|---|---|
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | Prefer Ghazanfar; overseas slot needed |
| Reece Topley | Limited opportunities; pace reshuffle |
| Richard Gleeson | Not in long-term plans |
| Charith Asalanka | Released after Rutherford’s arrival |
| Satyanarayana Raju | Squad restructuring |
| Raghu Sharma | Limited role in playing XI |
| Will Jacks | Set to be released (latest report) |
| Arjun Tendulkar | Moved to LSG as part of the Shardul trade |
Why These Releases Matter?
Will Jacks’ expected release free an important overseas slot? The English all-rounder didn’t get enough opportunities to prove himself.
Mujeeb Ur Rahman exits as MI prefer Allah Ghazanfar for their mystery spin role. The Afghan youngster impressed management more.
Arjun Tendulkar’s move to Lucknow Super Giants was part of the Shardul Thakur trade arrangement. This frees space in MI’s domestic fast-bowling department.
These releases give MI flexibility to target specific players at the auction. They’ve opened both overseas slots and domestic positions strategically.
Official MI Trade Updates for IPL 2026
Mumbai Indians completed four major trades before the retention deadline. These moves strengthen their squad significantly.
Confirmed Trade Deals
- ✔ Shardul Thakur joins MI for ₹2 Crore: The experienced all-rounder comes from Lucknow Super Giants. He strengthens MI’s Indian pace attack and provides middle-overs wicket-taking ability.
- ✔ Sherfane Rutherford traded to MI for ₹2.6 Crore: The West Indian power-hitter joins from the Gujarat Titans. His explosive lower-middle order batting adds crucial finishing strength.
- ✔ Arjun Tendulkar moves to LSG: Part of the trade adjustment for Shardul Thakur. This move frees MI’s domestic fast-bowler bench space for new additions.
- ✔ Mayank Markande traded from KKR to MI: The leg-spinner returns to his first IPL franchise. He strengthens MI’s spin department alongside Santner and Ghazanfar.
- ✔ Deepak Chahar retained: Early reports suggested his release, but MI management confirmed he stays. The swing bowler remains part of their pace plans.
Ongoing Trade Discussions
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❗ MI exploring move for Ishan Kishan Talks continue for bringing back their former wicketkeeper. MI are assessing an all-cash deal or potential player swap depending on auction purse conditions.
This would solve their Indian wicketkeeper problem instantly. Kishan knows the MI system well from his previous successful seasons.
Read More: IPL 2026 Trade Confirmed Deals & Rumours
MI’s Strategy for IPL 2026 Mini-Auction
Mumbai Indians have clear targets for the upcoming auction. Their strategy focuses on filling specific gaps identified from last season.
Key Auction Priorities
- Boost death bowling – Combine Bumrah’s brilliance with Shardul’s variations
- Improve finishing strength – Rutherford adds power-hitting in final overs
- Maintain overseas balance – Keep Bosch, Rickelton, and Bairstow as core overseas players
- Strengthen spin department – Santner and Ghazanfar form the primary spin duo
- Find Indian wicketkeeper – Top priority remains securing a quality domestic keeper-batsman
- Target specific roles – Left-arm spinner, backup Indian pacer, and explosive middle-order finisher
MI will likely bid aggressively for a proven Indian wicketkeeper. This position remains their biggest squad weakness currently.
They also need one more quality Indian pacer to support Chahar and Shardul. Death-overs specialists will attract MI’s attention.
Complete Mumbai Indians Squad for IPL 2026
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Batters & WKs | Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Jonny Bairstow, Ryan Rickelton, Robin Minz, Shrijith Krishnan, Sherfane Rutherford |
| All-Rounders | Hardik Pandya (C), Naman Dhir, Raj Angad Bawa, Mitchell Santner, Shardul Thakur, Corbin Bosch |
| Bowlers | Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Mayank Markande, Deepak Chahar, Karn Sharma, Allah Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar, Vignesh Puthur |
- Total Retained: 22 Players
- Overseas Players: 5 (Bairstow, Rickelton, Rutherford, Santner, Bosch, Boult, Ghazanfar)
- Indian Core: 17 Players
This squad has excellent balance across all departments. MI just needs 2-3 smart auction buys to complete their championship puzzle.
For more updates on Mumbai Indians’ squad news, player trades, and IPL 2026 auction coverage, follow CricketBureau.com.
What Experts Are Saying?
Cricket analysts believe MI has made calculated moves in the trade window. Adding Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford addresses specific weaknesses.
The retention of Deepak Chahar shows MI’s faith in proven performers. His swing bowling in power plays remains valuable.
However, MI’s title hopes depend on finding a quality Indian wicketkeeper at the auction. Without that piece, their balance remains incomplete.
Final Thoughts:
Mumbai Indians enter IPL 2026 with one of the strongest and most stable cores in the league.
They’ve built their squad around proven champions and exciting young talent.
The additions of Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford directly address last season’s death bowling and finishing issues.
Retaining Deepak Chahar strengthens their Indian pace attack.
With Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Trent Boult forming the backbone, MI have championship experience in abundance.
Tilak Varma’s emergence as a star batsman adds another dimension.
The franchise has made smart decisions in releasing underperforming overseas players while keeping faith in performers like Bairstow, Rickelton, and Bosch.
If MI successfully land an Indian wicketkeeper and one more death-overs specialist at the auction, they become instant title favorites.
Their core is championship-ready – they just need those final pieces.
Mumbai Indians look primed for another serious title run in IPL 2026.
Their pre-auction preparation has been methodical and strategic, setting them up perfectly for success.
