MUMBAI: Two-time Women’s Premier League champions Mumbai Indians enter the 2026 season with renewed confidence after successfully reclaiming most members of their title-winning 2025 squad at the mega auction held in New Delhi on Thursday.
Reflecting on the team’s approach, Nita M Ambani said,
“Auction days are exciting but also a bit nerve-racking. Our strategy was to bring back as many players as possible from our championship-winning team of 2025. I’m thrilled to have Amelia Kerr back along with our four ‘Ss’: Shabnim, Saika, Sajana and Sanskriti. We are equally excited to welcome three young talents — Rahila Firdous, Nalla Kranthi Reddy and Triveni Vashisth — and I warmly welcome Poonam Khemnar, Milly Illingworth and Nicola Carey into the Mumbai Indians family.”
Along with their retained core—Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur and G. Kamalini—MI succeeded in reacquiring Amelia Kerr, the Player of the Tournament at the latest T20 World Cup, as well as S. Sajana, Saika Ishaque, Sanskriti Gupta and veteran speedster Shabnim Ismail. India’s World Cup-winning captain Harmanpreet Kaur was present at the auction table, lending her insights to the team’s planning and strategies.
Sharing her experience, Harmanpreet said,
“Initially, I was a little nervous, but I loved the planning and everyone’s involvement, especially Nita Ma’am’s. She has always been our biggest support and constantly backs us. We’ve got most of our old teammates back, which shows the trust and confidence we have in them.”
The five reacquired players have all played crucial roles in MI’s past successes, with Saika, Sajana and Sanskriti emerging as breakout stars after being identified and backed by the franchise early in their careers.
Mumbai Indians also strengthened their overseas contingent by signing the experienced Australian all-rounder Nicola Carey, a multiple World Cup winner, and young pace prospect Milly Illingworth.
Staying true to their philosophy of promoting emerging Indian talent, MI rounded off a well-balanced squad by bringing in promising domestic all-rounders Nalla Kranthi Reddy and Triveni Vasistha, both set to make their WPL debuts.
The team further boosted its domestic depth by signing Madhya Pradesh captain Rahila Firdous and seasoned batter Poonam Khemnar, who bring significant experience to the lineup.
