Purse of just 2.75 crore: Released players MI can target in IPL mini auction with limited budget

Players MI can target [Source: AFP Photo]

Only three teams will enter the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 mini auction with a relaxed frame of mind - Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Punjab Kings, and Mumbai Indians. Despite not reaching the finals, last season, MI has a settled unit, and that was reflected during the retention submission day.

The core of the team was kept intact, and only the deadwoods were released as the team only had a purse of INR 2.75 crores and they will enter the mini auction with the aim of only filling a couple of small loopholes.

With a limited purse left, MI won’t be able to buy a big name, and rather, they need to play smartly in the auction. The team also has one overseas slot left, and with 2.75 crore left, here are the options the team could run after.

What are the areas of concern for Mumbai Indians?

• Like RCB and PBKS, the Mumbai Indians have almost all the bases covered, and there are no big chinks in their armour. However, there are a couple of areas where the team could invest to further strengthen the squad.
• The team needs a backup Indian batter if an injury takes place to any of their main players, and also, the former IPL champions could do with another Indian all-rounder, who can chip in with both the bat and ball, and can play if the main players are either rested/or get injured.

Players MI can run after in the IPL 2026 mini auction

1) Abhinav Manohar

When people talk about Abhinav Manohar, they think about his last season with Sunrisers, where he failed to deliver the goods and was also dropped midway through the campaign. However, the real Manohar was witnessed during his GT days as the batter played the finisher’s role to perfection, and the stats reveal the story.

(Manohar for GT in IPL 2022, 2023)

• He played primarily as a finisher for GT, and while the numbers seemed decent, it is his strike rate that made him a force to reckon. The batter was instrumental as a finisher for GT, and the Mumbai Indians side could go after him to fill in the backup batter’s slot.
• He was bought for 3.20 crore by SRH in the mega auction, but now after poor performances, his demand will come down and the five-time champions could try and steal him in the auction for a cheap price.

2) Aryan Juyal

• The team only has one quality keeper in Ryan Rickelton, and while the Mumbai Indians do have Robin Minz, he hasn’t done much for them and has hardly gotten any opportunity in the IPL. The talented batter has largely been unused and that means the franchise hardly trusts him. In such a case, the MI team can go after LSG’s released player, Aryan Juyal.
• With a strike-rate of almost 130 in T20s, Juyal can be a solid backup keeping option for MI, in case Rickelton gets injured or his form declines.
• LSG bought him for INR 30 lakh and he should relatively be a low-budget buy for MI.

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