MI's WPL 2026 masterclass: Core players retained, Kerr deal secured to defend the title

MI's title winning masterclass [Source: AFP Photo]

The Mumbai Indians have always been a strong squad, be it the men’s team or the women’s team in the WPL. The Women’s side has already won two titles, and interestingly, even before the mega auction, the team retained its core. The likes of Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, and G Kamalini were backed for next season.

This ensured that the side was already ready to defend their crown in 2026 and had a settled unit entering the mega auction 2026. Unlike the likes of Gujarat Giants and UP Warriorz, MI was able to retain their best players, and their mega auction strategy revealed the entire story.

How MI's retained players performed in WPL 2025

(MI players in WPL 2025)

• As the numbers suggest, MI’s retained players had an exceptional season in 2025 and the numbers tell the entire story. The likes of Nat Sciver-Brunt and Hayley Matthews had an all-round showing, while harmanpreet Kaur led from the front with the ball as the team clinched their second title.
• Five players were kept intact, and all five players delivered the goods as MI cleared the first hurdle of retaining the best in the business.

MI plugged in loopholes during mega auction

• A title-winning superhuman side hardly had any weaknesses, but the team made sure that their mini loopholes were plugged in before the season, as they bought three players so far.
• The team needed a solid all-rounder in the middle-order to bolster the squad, and they went all in on their former star, Amelia Kerr, who performed exceptionally well for them, last season.

(Amelia Kerr in WPL 2025)

• 18 wickets in 10 matches with an economy of less than 8 defined Kerr’s WPL 2025 journey. She was one of MI’s best player, and the team decided to splash out 3 crore to acquire her.
• Also, the team went ahead and bolster the bowling attack by going after Shabnim Ismail, and off-break bowler, Sanskriti Gupta.
• The team hardly had any major loopholes, but bowling was a bit of concern and the arrival of Kerr, Ismail, and Gupta has solved that problem as well.

Final verdict

There are still plenty of players MI can buy in the mega auction, but the team’s couple of grey areas has been solved with the arrival of three solid players, and combining it with their retained squad, the team has a winning formula for next season.

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