The five-time champions, Mumbai Indians, are making waves with their early trades as they gear up to break their trophy drought in IPL 2026.

Last season, they made it to Qualifier 2, showcasing glimpses of the classic Mumbai Indians style. However, it was clear that they needed to address some issues, like their spin depth, middle-order consistency, and concerns during the death overs, which influenced their strategy ahead of the mini-auction. 

One of the most exciting moves has been MI’s proactive approach in the trade window. They’ve welcomed back leg-spinner Mayank Markande from KKR, a player who kicked off his IPL journey with Mumbai. They also bolstered their all-rounder lineup by bringing in Shardul Thakur from Lucknow Super Giants. Plus, the return of Sherfane Rutherford from the Gujarat Titans is expected to inject some serious power into the middle order. On the flip side, MI has bid farewell to bowling all-rounder Arjun Tendulkar, who has transferred to LSG.

As retention day approaches, a lot of chatter has revolved around MI’s Indian core, which has historically been the foundation of their success. The futures of key players like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Tilak Varma have been hot topics. Given their significant contributions, these players are likely to remain on the retained list. 

Among the overseas contingent, players like Trent Boult, Mitchell Santner, and Ryan Rickelton are set to stay, thanks to their vital roles in the 2025 season and the balance they bring to the team. Meanwhile, MI has made the tough decision to part ways with nine players.

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