IPL 2026: 3 MI Players Who Could Be Traded Before the IPL Auction

Mumbai Indians (MI) were knocked out in Qualifier 2 by Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2025 IPL season. The five-time champions will now aim to go all the way in 2026 under the smart leadership of Hardik Pandya. After finishing last in IPL 2024, MI bounced back strongly this year with a well-balanced squad built at the mega-auction. As they prepare for the 18th edition of the tournament, the team will look to make a few changes to become even stronger.

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Mumbai Indians Founded: 2008

Mumbai Indians, owned by Indiawin Sports, are one of the most successful franchises in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Before the IPL 2026 mini-auction, the Mumbai-based franchise might trade a few players to free up funds and build a more powerful side. Here’s a look at some players MI could consider trading to other teams.

3 MI Players Who Could Be Traded Before the IPL Auction

Karn Sharma

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KARN SHARMA Batter

Karn Sharma, born in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India, is a left-handed batsman and right-arm leg break googly bowler.

Karn Sharma is a useful bowler but not a big wicket-taker for Mumbai Indians. The team already has top pacers like Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, but they need a clever spinner. That’s where Krishnappa Gowtham could be a good option.

Gowtham’s best IPL season was in 2018 when he took 11 wickets, but he hasn’t got many chances since then. He can also bat well in the lower order, which adds value. If Allah Ghazanfar stays fit, he will be MI’s main spinner, but Gowtham would be a strong backup choice.

Deepak Chahar

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Deepak Chahar Batter

Deepak Chahar, a right-handed batsman and bowler, is a member of the Indian cricket team and plays for the Chennai Super Kings.

Deepak Chahar was one of the most talked-about players before the IPL 2025 mega auction. Mumbai Indians bought him for ₹9.25 crore. Fans were excited to see him form a strong new-ball pair with Trent Boult. But the former Chennai Super Kings bowler couldn’t perform as expected. The 33-year-old took 11 wickets in 14 matches, with an average of 34.18 and an economy rate of 9.17. This was only the second IPL season in his career where he gave away runs at over nine per over.

Robin Minz

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Robin Minz Batter

This deal doesn’t seem to make much sense. But recent reports suggest that Rajasthan Royals might consider trading Sanju Samson, as Chennai Super Kings are also interested in him. Mumbai Indians already have Ryan Rickelton as their wicketkeeper, but he has been inconsistent. Also, in the past few seasons, MI’s Indian players haven’t been very reliable, with Suryakumar Yadav being the only consistent performer.

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