MI Playing 11 for IPL 2026 After Retention List

Mumbai Indians, undoubtedly one of the most consistent and celebrated teams in IPL history, have again made headlines with their player retention choices. This franchise is known for its strong leadership and smart planning.

MI has always focused on scouting young talent around the world and nurturing them, rather than relying only on superstars from world cricket. The franchise believes in trusting their players and giving them time to grow, which has often paid off during high-pressure matches. Players such as Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Tilak Varma, who are now T20 stars in world cricket, are the finds of one of the best IPL teams in the history of this league, Mumbai Indians.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the Mumbai Indians retention list ahead of the IPL 2026 auction and what the probable MI playing 11 for IPL 2026.

MI Retention List

MI retention list will reflect both their long-term planning and last season’s mixed performance. This franchise is known for building teams around strong leadership and all-round depth. After a mixed campaign in IPL 2025, the franchise will try to rebuild around its experienced core while giving opportunities to young and emerging talents.

The management is likely to retain Hardik Pandya as captain, and Rohit Sharma will continue to play as an experienced player role at the top. Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive batting makes him an automatic choice, while Tilak Varma adds strength to the middle order as one of MI’s young stars. On the other hand, Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult are expected to remain the leaders of the pace attack, providing MI with much-needed stability.

Among the promising youngsters, Naman Dhir and Ashwani Kumar are likely to be retained after impressive performances last season. Overseas all-rounder Will Jacks could also stay in the squad for his adaptability and batting power.

They have also traded two utility all-rounders ahead of the IPL auction 2026. Shardul Thakur from LSG and Sherfane Rutherford from GT in an all-cash deal. MI is now looking well-balanced with some of the finest all-rounders in the squad. They already had Hardik Pandya, who is currently the best all-rounder in the world in the shortest format.

MI Players Likely to be Released

The player who are likely to be released from the squad after the announcement of the Mumbai retention list are wicket-keeper batter from Jharkhand Robin Minz, Shrijith Krishnan, Raj Angad Bawa, Raghu Sharma, Charith Asalanka, Richard Gleeson, Mujeeb-ur-Rahman, Karn Sharma. Arjun Tendulkar is also making headlines as he might get released from the squad, either it will be a trade or a simple release.

MI Playing 11 for IPL 2026

As the IPL 2026 auction approaches, Mumbai Indians are yet to finalise their retention list, but discussions are already heating up among fans about what their ideal playing 11 could look like.

The five-time champions are known for their smart planning, and they will be keen to rebuild after a mixed 2025 season. The franchise is expected to keep a mix of experienced stars like Hardik Pandya, one of the best IPL batsmen, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah, while also nurturing young talents such as Tilak Varma, Ashwani Kumar and Naman Dhir.

In the auction, MI will likely target players who can fill specific gaps in the squad. A quality spinner will be high on their priority list, as well as a strong finisher to complement Hardik and Naman Dhir in the lower order. They might also look for an additional overseas pacer and a backup opener to ensure depth and flexibility in the lineup.

Now with the addition of two all-rounders in the form of Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford in the squad, MI is now looking really good.