IPL 2026: Mumbai Indians Released Players – Major Squad Overhaul Ahead of the New Season

Mumbai Indians, or MI, the most victorious and high-profile team in IPL history, faced a very disappointing 2025 season and ended up in a position the team did not want. To get back the lost glory, the management has made it clear through a major reshuffle — nine players to be released before the IPL 2026 auction.

Complete List of MI Released Players for IPL 2026

Deepak Chahar – ₹9.25 crore

Allah Ghazanfar – ₹4.80 crore

Mitchell Santner – ₹2 crore

Reece Topley – ₹75 lakh

Karn Sharma – ₹50 lakh

Robin Minz – ₹65 lakh

Arjun Tendulkar – ₹30 lakh

Raj Angad Bawa – ₹30 lakh

Satyanaryana Penmetsa – ₹30 lakh

The decision to release these players frees up ₹18.85 crore in MI’s purse for the upcoming mini-auction.

Why MI Released These Players

Mumbai Indians struggled throughout IPL 2025 — their bowling lacked control in the middle overs and consistency at the death. Spinners failed to contain runs, while injuries and form slumps hurt their pace attack.

Releasing high-value but underperforming players like Deepak Chahar and Mitchell Santner was a tough but necessary call. Reece Topley and Allah Ghazanfar also faced the axe as MI looks to build a more dependable bowling unit. Veterans like Karn Sharma and Manish Pandey were replaced in favor of nurturing young domestic talent.

MI’s Rebuilding Strategy for IPL 2026

The franchise aims to rebuild around its core stars — Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah. Promising youngsters Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir are expected to continue featuring prominently.

Mumbai’s primary focus ahead of IPL 2026 will be:

• Strengthening the spin department with consistent Indian options.
• Adding a death-over specialist pacer.
• Finding a reliable middle-order finisher to complement their power hitters.

With a refreshed budget and a clear plan, Mumbai Indians hope to rediscover their championship-winning rhythm and make a strong comeback in IPL 2026.