Mumbai Indians have made a major change to their squad for IPL 2026. According to sources, the franchise announced the release of nine players last night.
This move comes after a poor performance in the 2025 season, where the team failed to reach the playoffs.
Now, the mini-auction offers an opportunity to add new faces. People are surprised, but this restructuring will strengthen the team for 2026.
Mumbai Indians Released Players 2026
Mumbai Indians have bid farewell to stars like Deepak Chahar, Allah Ghazanfar, and Mitchell Santner. Deepak Chahar was retained for Rs. 9.25 crore but was released due to injury and form issues.
Allah Ghazanfar was worth ₹4.80 crore, and Mitchell Santner was worth Rs. 2 crore. Reece Topley (₹7.5 million), Karn Sharma (₹5.0 million), Robin Minz (₹6.5 million), Arjun Tendulkar (₹3.0 million), Raj Angad Bawa (₹3.0 million), and Satyanarayana Penmetsa (₹3.0 million) are also on the released players list.
A total purse of Rs. 18.85 crore was freed up. These released players will now be available for bidding in the IPL 2026 auction.
The management stated that bowling was a concern, especially in the middle and death overs.
Spinners failed to control runs, and pacers struggled with injuries.
Hence, high-value but underperforming players were released. The plan is to bring in young and consistent performers.
MI Still Trust In Core Players, New Strategy
Core members like Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah have been retained. Young talents such as Tilak Verma and Naman Dheer will also continue.
The focus is now on improving the spin attack and adding Indian bowling options. The franchise aims to sign a death-overs specialist pacer and a strong middle-order finisher for the upcoming IPL.
There are also ongoing discussions about possible trades before the auction. The goal of MI is clear, to rebuild a balanced and dominant squad and make a strong comeback in 2026.
With new signings and a renewed strategy, Mumbai Indians are preparing to roar again in the upcoming IPL 2026 season.
