Core intact, cards reshuffled: Mumbai Indians lock retentions, trade Arjun Tendulkar ahead of IPL 2026

Updated: November 16, 2025 05:00

Image Source: Mumbai Indians

Mumbai Indians submitted their IPL 2026 retentions, keeping Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav, while trading Arjun Tendulkar to Lucknow Super Giants. With 20 players retained and five auction slots open, MI complemented their core with smart trades—Sharpening lower order and spin depth ahead of the mid-December mega auction.

Retention snapshot and auction setup

Mumbai Indians have retained 20 players, leaving five slots—including one overseas—open for the upcoming IPL 2026 mega auction scheduled for mid-December 2025. The franchise emphasized stability around its senior Indian core while recalibrating role balance through pre-deadline trades.

Key highlights

Core leadership retained:

Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, and Suryakumar Yadav headline the hold list, anchoring MI’s leadership, new-ball strike power, and middle-order firepower.

Arjun Tendulkar traded to LSG:

MI executed an all-cash transfer sending Arjun Tendulkar to Lucknow Super Giants at his existing fee of ₹30 lakh, opening room for roster optimization.

Squad size and auction flexibility:

With 20 players retained and five vacancies (one overseas), MI enter the auction with flexibility to target specialist roles and bench depth.

Pre-retention trade business:

MI added Sherfane Rutherford (finishing power), Shardul Thakur (seam-bowling all-rounder), and Mayank Markande (leg-spin option) through trades, addressing lower-order punch and spin variety at measured costs.

Role balance and strategy:

Rutherford strengthens late-overs hitting; Thakur provides middle-over wickets plus batting cushion; Markande bolsters spin match-ups—key tweaks after last season’s finishing and variety gaps.

One overseas slot open:

Retaining 20 while keeping an overseas slot available signals a targeted search in auction—likely a specialist finisher or mystery spinner depending on auction dynamics.

What it means for MI’s 2026 build

Mumbai Indians are betting on continuity at the top and tactical upgrades at the margins. The blend of retained superstars and cost-efficient trades positions them to chase high-impact additions in the auction without overhauling identity—keeping runway for form, fitness, and role clarity to converge by season start.

Sources: Mint, Business Standard, MyKhel

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