MI Team comparison: IPL 2025 vs IPL 2026 Squad breakdown

The five-time champions Mumbai Indians (MI) entered the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini-auction with a limited purse, having retained the majority of their core players from the previous season. In fact, with just INR 2.75 crore in the bank, this marked the lowest purse for any team in the history of IPL auctions. As a result, the Mumbai-based side focused on making selective additions, largely investing in young and relatively untested talent while maintaining squad continuity.

MI Squad Comparison: IPL 2025 vs IPL 2026

Mumbai Indians finished third in IPL 2025, bowing out after a loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 2. Their campaign began inconsistently, with a mix of wins and losses in the early stages. However, MI found momentum during the latter half of the tournament, delivering stellar performances that helped them secure a playoffs’ spot.

During the IPL 2025 mega-auction, MI assembled a balanced squad featuring both experience and youth. They brought in players such as AM Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult, Will Jacks, and Robin Minz. This blend allowed the team to remain competitive throughout the season. Crucially, the five-time champions retained their experienced core, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah, all of whom played key roles during the campaign.

Heading into IPL 2026, MI largely resisted the urge to overhaul their squad. Their biggest acquisition at the mini-auction was wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock, secured for INR 1.00 crore. Apart from that, MI added several young prospects, including Danish Malewar, Salahuddin Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar, and Mayank Rawat, signalling a continued focus on developing future talent.

Overall, MI’s 2026 squad closely resembles their 2025 setup, reflecting a philosophy of stability rather than experimentation. With a proven core of experienced players complemented by emerging youngsters, the franchise will be aiming to strike the right balance as they push for a record-extending sixth IPL title.

MI IPL 2026 squad

Shardul Thakur, Sherfane Rutherford, Mayank Markande, 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, Quinton de Kock, Danish Malewar, Mohammed Salahuddin Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar, Mayank Rawat