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With the smallest purse at the IPL 2026 mini auction, Mumbai Indians surprised many by reuniting with a familiar star and backing young talent, proving once again that sharp planning can matter more than big spending.
Quinton de Kock returns to MI at a bargain price.
New Delhi: Mumbai Indians walked into the IPL 2026 mini auction carrying a purse of just Rs 2.75 crore, the lowest among all franchises. Despite the financial limitation, the five time champions stayed calm and focused on plugging specific gaps rather than chasing high profile bidding battles. Their approach reflected years of experience in building squads under pressure while trusting their strong retained core.
The standout moment of the auction for Mumbai Indians was the return of Quinton de Kock. Picked up for just Rs 1 crore, the South African wicketkeeper batter rejoined a franchise where he had previously enjoyed success. His comeback adds depth and experience behind the stumps and strengthens the batting options at the top of the order.
Quinton de Kock brings proven IPL pedigree to the squad. During his earlier stint with Mumbai Indians from 2019 to 2021, he delivered consistent returns with the bat. Across those three seasons, he crossed 500 runs twice and remained a reliable presence at the top. Overall, de Kock has played 115 IPL matches, scoring 3309 runs at an average of 30.63 and a strike rate above 134, making him a dependable option even at this stage.
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The final Mumbai Indians squad for IPL 2026 reflects a blend of experience, youth and tactical balance. The full list includes Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ryan Rickelton, Quinton de Kock, Robin Minz, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Naman Dhir, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Allah Ghafanzar, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Raghu Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa, Sherfane Rutherford, Mayank Markande, Shardul Thakur, Danish Malewar, Mohammed Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar and Mayank Rawat.
The signing of de Kock also provides strong support for Ryan Rickelton, who impressed during his first IPL season earlier this year. With the franchise moving on from uncapped wicketkeeper Krishnan Shrijith before the auction, the management clearly preferred experience. De Kock’s presence offers flexibility in team selection and allows MI to manage workloads during a long tournament.
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Given their limited purse, Mumbai Indians largely avoided bidding wars and instead focused on young uncapped talent. Danish Malewar, Mohammed Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar and Mayank Rawat were all secured for Rs 30 lakh each. These signings align with MI’s philosophy of identifying raw talent and developing it within a strong support system.
The retained group remains the backbone of Mumbai Indians. Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav provide leadership and experience, while Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir represent the next generation. The bowling attack continues to revolve around Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, offering control and wicket taking ability.
Mumbai Indians strengthened the squad through trades rather than auction spending. Sherfane Rutherford adds power to the middle order, Mayank Markande boosts spin options and Shardul Thakur brings seam bowling depth along with lower order batting value. These moves helped MI maximize resources.
Several players were released to create space and manage finances. These included Reece Topley, Karn Sharma, Mujeeb ur Rahman and others, marking a shift toward a refreshed and balanced squad for the new season.
