5 Players MI Must Release Before IPL 2026

Mumbai Indians (MI), under Hardik Pandya’s leadership, had a poor start to IPL 2025. They managed only one win in the first five fixtures of the event.

But the middle season of the competition turned the tables. They went on to grab six consecutive victories on various grounds. Their former captain, Rohit Sharma, also started to come into form with a few spectacular knocks.

However, their defeat against the Gujarat Titans at their home ground slipped them in the process. And their next game in the same venue against the Delhi Capitals will be a do-or-die clash. If they lose it, then they will have to defend on a few results to go in their favor, but a win will take them through.

Apart from the strong players, there are a few positions where the MI side will need to plan better going into the 2026 season of the tournament.

Here are the five players MI must release before the IPL 2026

1. Deepak Chahar

Mumbai had a plan to sign new ball pacers, who could pick wickets in the powerplay. They went with Deepak Chahar for the rewards inside the powerplay, along with Trent Boult.

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The Indian pacer has been a little cold in his performance, in comparison of his price during the IPL 2025 mega auction, where he collected INR 9.75 crore.

Chahar picked up 10 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 32.60 and a strike rate of 21, with an economy rate of 9.31, thanks to the best bowling figure of 2/12 in an innings. Leaving him will add money, and Mumbai can get him back for a lower price.

2. Robin Minz

Mumbai went for Robin Minz during the last auction of the league, because they needed a back-up wicket-keeping option. Most of these uncapped young players get a few chances to show their caliber and Robin, in two innings, has collected only six runs at a strike rate of 40.

Ryan Rickelton, the wicket-keeper opening batter, has been fantastic for the franchise this year with 336 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 153.62, thanks to three half-centuries at the best score of unbeaten 62 runs.

3. Allah Ghazanfar

Mumbai collected a few overseas spinners in the department, including the left-arm bowler from New Zealand, Mitchell Santner. They also kept the mystery spinner from Afghanistan, Allah Ghazanfar, in the squad for a huge price of INR 4.80 crore. However, with Santner, Boult, Rickelton, and Jacks playing, he didn’t get the chance.

If Mumbai can leave the spinner in the auction, then they can save around INR 2 crores at least, which they can spend in the auction.

4. Lizaad Williams

The South African pacer, Lizaad Williams, came into the Mumbai Indians and hasn’t played a single game in the IPL 2025. In two innings last year, he picked up just one solitary wicket for an economy rate of 12.

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In the auction, MI should look for better fast bowlers in the overseas department rather than Williams, who doesn’t have a huge experience with just 89 T20s.

5. Reece Topley

The left-arm England fast bowler, Reece Topley, is an injury-prone pacer, and the smart move from the five-time champions will be to leave him before the next season.

Tropley, who has 230 T20 wickets in 185 innings at an economy rate of 8.41, picked up five wickets in his IPL career. Mumbai may find a better overseas pacer than the Surrey pacer in the auction.