Ahead of IPL 2026, Mumbai Indians have announced that nine players have been released, paving the way for a massive squad reshuffle after their dismal campaign in 2025.
The dominance of the five-time IPL champions has been well acknowledged; however, last season’s underwhelming performance prompted management to make some tough decisions in their quest to rebuild the team and regain lost glory.
Complete List of Mumbai Indians Released Players for IPL 2026
| Player | Price (₹ Crore) |
| Deepak Chahar | 9.25 |
| Allah Ghazanfar | 4.80 |
| Mitchell Santner | 2.00 |
| Reece Topley | 0.75 |
| Robin Minz | 0.65 |
| Karn Sharma | 0.50 |
| Arjun Tendulkar | 0.30 |
| Raj Angad Bawa | 0.30 |
| Satyanaryana Penmetsa | 0.30 |
The Mumbai Indians, by releasing these nine players, have freed up ₹18.85 crore in their auction purse and this will give them more leeway heading into the IPL 2026 mini-auction.
Why Mumbai Indians Released These Players
In the 2025 IPL season, the Mumbai Indians struggled for consistency as a unit as much of the focus was put on the bowling unit. The middle overs had spiraled out of control, while death bowling, a long-term concern for MI, was again an issue.
Throughout the season, MI’s decline (for both their bowling and batting unit) was aided by three significant injuries to several frontline players, but also, several players that were acquired for high prices being significantly out of form.
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Ultimately, Deepak Chahar and Mitchell Santner had experience to lean on but hadn’t been able to provide impactful performances consistently. Reece Topley and Allah Ghazanfar struggled with both fitness and form.
Veterans like Karn Sharma and Manish Pandey were released to make room for emerging domestic talent. This choice made by the management shows their emphasis on long range planning and performance-based selection over reputation.
MI’s Rebuilding Philosophy Heads into IPL 2026
Instead of ego or reputation, the Mumbai Indians plan to focus on trying to remake their bowling lineup and reshape the team by bringing in Indian players who are in-form. The franchise will keep its core intact, but in spots they need to cover for the glaring deficiencies that emerged last season.
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Key Focus Areas for IPL 2026:
Enhancing Spin Choices: MI, particularly when engaging in red ball cricket, desire consistent Indian spinners who give them more control during the mid-stage of the innings.
Acquiring a Death-bowling Specialist: With their wickets from Chahar and Topley gone, MI will now look to acquire and identify pace bowlers who have established success in the death overs.
Solidifying the Middle Order: Finding a permanent finisher would ideally round the mix out alongside the power hitters.
Central Figures to Propel the Resurgence: The franchise will continue paying extensive attention to its star players, who include Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah. Up-and-coming young players, Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir, will also have integral places in the new regime.
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