Mumbai Indians enter the IPL 2026 Auction with a meager purse of ₹2.75 crore and five vacancies, including one abroad, after retaining a strong core led by Hardik PandyaRohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah. Scheduled for December 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, the event will feature more than 1,300 registered players competing for 77 places across all franchises. MI’s strategy focuses on targeted reinforcements in terms of finishing power and bowling depth to bolster their progress towards the title.
5 players Mumbai Indians (MI) can target in IPL 2026 mini-auction
Mumbai could strategically offer these five players to fill the key gaps in their squad, combining experience, domestic promise and T20 expertise.
- David Miller
The South African powerhouse offers middle-order firepower with a proven IPL strike rate above 139 from 132 matches, including 136 sixes and pinpoint fielding. Released by Lucknow Super Giants After a 2025 season of 153 runs in 11 matches, his lethal finishing meets MI’s aggressive batting needs at a potential base price of less than ₹2 crore.
- K.M. Asif
This Indian pacer brings raw T20 wicket-taking ability, claiming 40 scalps in 36 outings at an economy of 8.32, with a best of 3/15. Listed at a modest base price of 40 lakh for the auction, Asif represents cost-effective pace depth for MI’s limited-overs overseas attack.
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- Akash Madhwal
A familiar face to MI fans, the Roorkee speedster has exploded in 2023 with 14 wickets, including a record 5/5 against Lucknow Super Giants. Released by Rajasthan Royals after dips in form, his power play and death skills make him an affordable, uncapped buyout at around ₹30 lakh to reclaim his MI role.
- Nathan Ellis
Australian death specialist impressed by CSK in 2025 at ₹2 crore, taking wickets every 17.5 balls in IPL with sharp yorkers on slower decks. If the changes available after retention change, his variations fill MI’s overseas pace void perfectly, although bidding wars loom given his T20 pedigree across 11 IPL games.
- Vignesh Puthur
The young left-arm wrist spinner from Kerala made his debut brilliantly for MI in 2025, taking 3/32 against CSK despite limited previous T20 exposure. Released as part of team adjustments, his mystery release at a low base price offers a high-potential national rotation, aligning with MI’s investment-in-youth philosophy.
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