Key takeaways
- MI finished 9th in 2026 with four wins from 14, a year after reaching Qualifier 2.
- Ryan Rickelton (448 runs) and Allah Ghazanfar (15 wickets) led their 2026 season.
- Wankhede is one of the best batting grounds in the IPL, and chasing teams have won more often there.
- Hardik Pandya was traded to Punjab Kings on 11 November 2026; Arshdeep Singh joins MI. A new captain has not been named.
- This guide uses the 2026 squad; we will update it after retentions on 17 November and the December auction.
MI at a glance
| Captain | To be announced — Hardik Pandya (2024–26) was traded to Punjab Kings on 11 November 2026 |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Kieron Pollard (from 2027; replaced Mahela Jayawardene) |
| Home ground | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| IPL titles | 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2020 |
| 2026 league stage | 9th — 4 wins, 10 losses, 8 points |
| 2026 top run-scorer | Ryan Rickelton, 448 |
| 2026 top wicket-taker | Allah Ghazanfar, 15 |
The 2026 season in brief
Mumbai reached Qualifier 2 in 2025 but struggled in 2026. They beat Kolkata Knight Riders in their opener, then lost their next four, and were knocked out of contention after defeat to RCB in their 11th match. Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah both stood in as captain during the season.
Off the field, MI traded for Shardul Thakur, Sherfane Rutherford and Mayank Markande, and lost Quinton de Kock and Mitchell Santner to injuries.
Squad by role (2026)
| Role | Players |
|---|---|
| Batters | Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Robin Minz |
| Wicket-keeper | Ryan Rickelton (overseas) |
| All-rounders | Hardik Pandya (c, since traded), Tilak Varma, Naman Dhir, Will Jacks (overseas), Sherfane Rutherford (overseas), Krish Bhagat |
| Pace bowlers | Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult (overseas), Corbin Bosch (overseas), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar, Ashwani Kumar, Mohammad Izhar, Ruchit Ahir |
| Spin bowlers | Allah Ghazanfar (overseas), Keshav Maharaj (overseas), Mayank Markande, Mahipal Lomror, Danish Malewar, Mayank Rawat, Raghu Sharma |
Quinton de Kock, Mitchell Santner, Atharva Ankolekar and Raj Angad Bawa withdrew injured; Lomror, Maharaj, Krish Bhagat and Ruchit Ahir came in as replacements.
Changes since the season: Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh has joined from Punjab Kings (₹18 crore) and Hardik Pandya has left for Punjab — the IPL confirmed the trade on 11 November 2026. See Hardik Pandya traded to Punjab Kings for Arshdeep Singh.
Form and numbers from 2026
| Player | Role | 2026 numbers |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Rickelton | Wicket-keeper batter | 448 runs |
| Tilak Varma | All-rounder | 359 runs |
| Naman Dhir | All-rounder | 318 runs |
| Rohit Sharma | Batter | 283 runs |
| Suryakumar Yadav | Batter | 270 runs |
| Allah Ghazanfar | Spin bowler | 15 wickets |
| Corbin Bosch | Pace bowler | 12 wickets |
| Shardul Thakur | Pace bowler | 12 wickets |
Two things stand out for fantasy. Rickelton, the wicket-keeper, was MI's top run-scorer — the same valuable keeper-batter profile as Samson at CSK. And MI's wickets were spread thinly: no bowler passed 15, and Jasprit Bumrah was not among their top five wicket-takers.
Core fantasy picks
- Ryan Rickelton — wicket-keeper and leading run-scorer; points from catches and stumpings on top of runs.
- Tilak Varma — 359 runs from the middle order and can bowl part-time spin.
- Jasprit Bumrah — a low wicket count in 2026, but he bowls the key overs at both ends of an innings; still a pick when conditions help pace.
- Allah Ghazanfar — MI's leading wicket-taker, with 15.
Value picks and differentials
- Naman Dhir — 318 runs; usually cheaper than the established names.
- Corbin Bosch and Shardul Thakur — 12 wickets each and both can bat a little; good all-round value on a batting pitch.
- Will Jacks — an overseas all-rounder who bats in the top order and bowls off-spin when he plays.
- Arshdeep Singh — new from Punjab: 111 IPL wickets, 14 in 2026. He will share the new ball and the death overs with Bumrah and, if retained, Boult.
Always check the confirmed playing eleven and batting order after the toss.
Wankhede: what the numbers say
Wankhede has small dimensions, a quick outfield and true bounce. All-time IPL figures at the venue (131 matches, as of May 2026):
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average first-innings score | 173 |
| Wins batting first / chasing | 58 / 72 |
| Highest total | 249/4 |
| Highest successful chase | 243 |
In IPL 2026 the average first-innings score at Wankhede was about 222.
What it means for your team:
- Batters, especially as captain. A normal total here is high.
- Chasing teams have won more often — dew in evening games makes the ball harder to grip — so after the toss, look at the top order of the side batting second.
- New-ball seamers can get early swing from the sea breeze, so a powerplay bowler is still worth a place; spinners usually get little help.
Full venue breakdown — records, toss trends, pace vs spin and a pre-match checklist: Wankhede pitch report. For a general routine, see pitch and conditions.
Matchups to check before each MI game
- Opposition openers against Bumrah and Boult. If the visitors' top order has struggled against the swinging new ball, MI's powerplay bowlers become strong picks.
- MI's middle order against spin. Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Naman Dhir will face the opposition's spinners in the middle overs; check their recent records against the specific spinners.
- Ghazanfar against left-handed batters. His off-spin turns away from left-handers, so a visiting line-up with several left-handers gives him more chances.
- Death overs at Wankhede. With short boundaries, finishers on both sides can score heavily late — check which death bowlers have been expensive recently.
Where to look: player profiles and head-to-head pages on ESPNcricinfo or the official IPL site list a batter's record against each bowler and bowling type.
Captaincy in MI matches
- At Wankhede: Rickelton or a top-order batter from the side expected to chase.
- Away on slower pitches: an all-rounder like Tilak Varma, or Ghazanfar if the pitch turns.
- In mega contests: the opposition's opener at Wankhede, or Bumrah in a low-scoring away game, separates you from the crowd.
More on choosing: captain and vice-captain.
Recent head-to-head (2025–2026)
MI's results against the other nine teams over the last two seasons, including 2025 playoffs.
| Opponent | 2025 | 2026 | MI won–lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chennai Super Kings | Lost, won | Lost, lost | 1–3 |
| Delhi Capitals | Won, won | Lost | 2–1 |
| Gujarat Titans | Lost, lost, won (Eliminator) | Won | 2–2 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | Won | Won, lost | 2–1 |
| Lucknow Super Giants | Lost, won | Won | 2–1 |
| Punjab Kings | Lost, lost (Qualifier 2) | Lost, won | 1–3 |
| Rajasthan Royals | Won | Lost, lost | 1–2 |
| Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lost | Lost, lost | 0–3 |
| Sunrisers Hyderabad | Won, won | Lost | 2–1 |
Treat these results as context, not a prediction: squads change every year, and conditions matter more for a single match. The clearest recent pattern is three straight defeats to RCB.
What to watch before IPL 2027
- A new head coach. Mahela Jayawardene left in October 2026 and Kieron Pollard, MI's former all-rounder, was promoted to head coach. On 30 October The Indian Express reported that Rohit Sharma had agreed to return as captain; that has not been confirmed — see Rohit and the MI captaincy and check the retention list on 17 November.
- Hardik out, Arshdeep in. The IPL confirmed on 11 November that Hardik Pandya has been traded to Punjab Kings for Arshdeep Singh. Mumbai now need a new captain, and Arshdeep gives them a left-arm partner for Bumrah. Vishnu Vinod, mentioned in earlier reports, was not part of the announced deal — see Hardik Pandya traded to Punjab Kings for Arshdeep Singh.
- 17 November — retentions. MI's overseas choices (Rickelton, Jacks, Boult, Ghazanfar) decide most of the picks above.
- 16 December — auction. A new opener or a wicket-taking seamer would change the team's fantasy profile the most.
- Fixtures (expected early 2027). Wankhede home games are the best fixtures for MI batters and for opposition top orders chasing.
Sources
- IPLT20.com, Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh complete major trade between PBKS and MI, 11 November 2026 — confirmed trade and fees.
- ThePrint (PTI), MI, PBKS in talks for high-profile trade involving Hardik and Arshdeep, 3 November 2026 — Hardik–Arshdeep trade talks.
- Outlook India (citing Sportstar), Hardik Pandya to Punjab Kings? Mumbai Indians in advanced talks for massive swap, 3 November 2026 — trade talks.
- The Tribune (ANI), IPL extends deadline for retention lists to November 17, 2 November 2026 — retention deadline.
- ThePrint (PTI), Kieron Pollard to take over as Mumbai Indians head coach ahead of IPL 2027, 24 October 2026.
- Onmanorama, Mahela Jayawardene steps down as Mumbai Indians head coach, 17 October 2026.
- Yahoo Sports (The Cricket News), Hardik Pandya–Yashasvi Jaiswal trade: talks between MI and RR stall, 14 October 2026.
- Wikipedia, 2026 Mumbai Indians season — squad, results, run and wicket tallies, trades.
- Wikipedia, 2025 Mumbai Indians season — 2025 results.
- Wikipedia, Mumbai Indians — titles.
- CricTracker, MI vs RR: IPL 2026 records and stats at Wankhede Stadium, May 2026 — updated venue figures and 2026 average.
- CricTracker, MI vs CSK: IPL 2026 records and stats at Wankhede Stadium, April 2026 — venue figures and pitch notes.