Top 3 Best Replacements for Deepak Chahar If Mumbai Indians Release Him
Fast bowler Deepak Chahar was bought by the Mumbai Indians for a big amount, INR 9.25 crore, in the IPL 2025 mega auction. He had done well earlier with the Chennai Super Kings, so MI expected him to lead their bowling in the powerplay, along with Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult. But Chahar didn’t perform as expected. He took only 11 wickets in 14 matches and gave away runs at a high economy rate of 9.17. Though he had a few good spells, he wasn’t as effective as he was under MS Dhoni at CSK, where he used to be the key bowler with the new ball.
Also, Chahar has a history of injuries, which makes his place in the team uncertain. If Mumbai Indians release him, they will have more money to spend on other fast bowlers who might do better.
1. Vasuki Koushik
Vasuki Koushik, a right-arm medium pace bowler from Karnataka, has been a steady and reliable performer in domestic cricket. He has taken 95 wickets in first-class matches, with an impressive bowling average of 18.54. Last season, he picked up 23 wickets in just seven Ranji Trophy games.
He also played a key role in Karnataka’s campaigns in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, making important contributions in both tournaments. Recently moving to Goa, he is looking to partner with Arjun Tendulkar, sharing the new-ball duties. Koushik can be a valuable addition to MI’s bowling unit, especially in the middle overs.
The five-time champions are known to scout players and give them the platform to perform. Koushik can be another successful story coming from the Mumbai talent pool.
2. Ben Sears
Ben Sears, a fast bowler from New Zealand. He started playing for the national team in 2021 and has played in Tests, ODIs, and T20s since then.
Although he's still early in his international journey, he's already made a name for himself in domestic cricket, winning a Plunket Shield title and earning a central contract along the way. With the ability to extract bounce and skid the ball off the pitch, Sears could provide MI with a genuine bowler who can disturb top-order batters in IPL conditions.
He could also have the chance to share the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah and use the Wankhede conditions to his benefit.
3. Harshal Patel
Mumbai Indians might think about picking Harshal Patel as a possible replacement for Deepak Chahar in the IPL 2026 auction. Harshal, who is 34 years old, played for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2025 season after they bought him for ₹8 crore. He did fairly well, taking 16 wickets in 13 matches, although he gave away a lot of runs with an economy rate of 9.80.
Interestingly, half of those wickets came from just two games. Over a decade-long career, Harshal has had successful stints at RCB, Punjab Kings, and now SRH. He has twice won the IPL Purple Cap, in 2021 and 2024.
Harshal has returned to play domestic cricket for Gujarat and stays motivated to do well, which makes him a good choice for the Mumbai team.
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