The Mumbai Indians, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, are setting a strong stage as they prepare for the 4th edition of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2026. Crowned inaugural champions in 2023 and seizing their second title in the 2025 season, the Mumbai Indians are determined to defend their crown with a focused strategy.
Ahead of the mega auction on 27th November 2025 in New Delhi, the franchise retained a core group of five key players and entered the auction with a purse of ₹5.75 crore, aiming to complete a balanced squad that has the right mix of domestic and overseas talent.
The Mumbai Indians had their skipper, Harmanpreet Kaur’s presence at the auction table. The Mumbai Indians took a massive gamble as they went all out for the White Ferns all-rounder Amelia Kerr, whose all-rounder heroics were instrumental in MI’s couple of title triumphs. They splashed 3 CR up front to have her back in the side, leaving them with just 2.75 CR to build the rest of the squad, and fill up a minimum of 9 slots.
One of the best steals of the auction for them was the inclusion of the former South African speedster Shabnim Ismail [60 Lakhs] balanced things out to some extent for the 2-time champions. For the rest of the auction, they were very much calm and composed at the auction table. They also managed to sneak in the explosive finisher in Sajeevan Sajana [75 Lakhs] just within their reach.
Towards the backend, in the accelerated round, Mumbai Indians secured the likes of Nicola Carey [30 Lakhs], Saika Ishaque [30 Lakhs], and Milly Illingworth [10 Lakhs], which seemed like a true reward of patience in a fast-moving auction. Sanskriti Gupta [20 Lakhs], who impressed in her limited opportunities in the previous edition, found her way back into the side.
A significant change in leadership off the field accompanies the team’s ambitious plans: Lisa Keightley has replaced Charlotte Edwards as the Mumbai Indians’ head coach. Edwards transitioned to coach the England women’s team earlier this year, sparking fresh energy and tactical innovation under Keightley’s guidance.
Player retention highlighted the Mumbai Indians’ confidence in their championship nucleus. The squad held onto premier all-rounder and captain Harmanpreet Kaur (retained for ₹2.5 crore), England’s dynamic Nat Sciver-Brunt, the team’s highest-paid retention at ₹3.5 crore, and Barbados-born all-rounder Hayley Matthews at ₹1.75 crore. The inclusion of promising domestic talent such as Amanjot Kaur (₹1 crore) and wicket-keeper batter G Kamalini (₹50 lakh) reflected a strategy focused on stability and nurturing emerging players.
Mumbai Indians Squad for WPL 2026:
Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini, Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Rahila Firdous, Nicola Carey, Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Triveni Vasistha, Poonam Khemnar, Nalla Reddy, Milly Illngworth, Saika Ishaque
Mumbai Indians managed to fill 11 out of 13 remaining squad slots during the auction, exhausting their full remaining purse, with four overseas slots wrapped up with the inclusions of Nicola Carey, Shabnim Ismail, Amelia Kerr, and Milly Illingworth. Given the ₹5.75 crore purse and no Right to Match cards, team management faced a delicate challenge of balancing the act of blending international experience with emerging talent.
As the auction unfolded set by set, the Mumbai Indians’ blend of proven match-winners, strategic youth, and new coaching leadership positions them as one of the most compelling teams entering WPL 2026. Fans and analysts alike will watch keenly to see how the franchise builds on its winning foundation amid the evolving dynamics of women’s cricket.
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