The Mumbai Indians women's cricket team is gearing up for an exciting rebuild as they prepare for the Women's Premier League 2026 season. The defending champions have made strategic decisions in their retention policy, setting the stage for what promises to be a thrilling auction day.
MI's Strategic Retentions and Budget
Two-time champions Mumbai Indians come into the WPL 2026 auction with a clear strategy and substantial financial firepower. The franchise has retained five key players from their championship-winning squad while maintaining Rs 5.75 crore in their purse for additional acquisitions.
This retention strategy means MI will be active participants in the auction process scheduled for November 27, 2025. The team management has carefully balanced experience and youth in their retention choices, ensuring a solid foundation while leaving room for strategic additions.
The Core Five: MI's Retained Players
Mumbai Indians have placed their faith in a blend of international stars and emerging Indian talent. The retained players represent the backbone of the team's previous success and include:
- Harmanpreet Kaur - The team captain and Indian batting powerhouse
- Nat Sciver-Brunt - World-class overseas all-rounder
- Hayley Matthews - Dynamic West Indian all-rounder
- Amanjot Kaur - Last season's breakout Indian star
- Kamalini G - The 17-year-old wicket-keeping sensation
This core group provides MI with leadership, experience, and exciting young talent as they build toward defending their title.
Auction Dynamics and MI's Shopping List
The WPL 2026 auction presents both opportunities and challenges for the Mumbai Indians. With a maximum squad strength of 18 players, MI can add another 13 players to their roster. The team needs to carefully allocate their Rs 5.75 crore budget to acquire four overseas players and nine Indian talents.
However, there's a significant constraint: the five retentions mean MI have no Right to Match (RTM) cards available at the auction. This eliminates their ability to reclaim former players by matching highest bids, making their auction strategy even more crucial.
The auction pool is substantial, featuring:
- 52 capped Indian players
- 66 capped overseas players
- 142 uncapped Indian players
- 17 uncapped overseas players
Notably, 19 players have registered in the highest base-price bracket of Rs 50 lakh, while 11 players are in the Rs 40 lakh bracket, and 88 players in the Rs 30 lakh bracket. The list also includes four players from Associate nations, all priced at Rs 10 lakh base price.
Road to WPL 2026 Defense
Mumbai Indians enter this auction cycle from a position of strength, having clinched the WPL championship in March 2025. Their retention strategy reflects a careful balance between maintaining championship DNA and creating flexibility for strategic additions.
The auction, scheduled to commence at 3:30 p.m. IST, will begin with the marquee set featuring eight top players. As all five WPL teams look to rebuild their squads for the tournament's fourth edition early next year, Mumbai Indians' Rs 5.75 crore war chest positions them as major players in the bidding process.
With careful planning and strategic bidding, MI aims to construct a squad capable of continuing their dominance in the Women's Premier League while managing their budget effectively across 13 new acquisitions.
