The WPL 2026 mega auction unfolded with all the little twists, bold punts, and eyebrow-raising surprises we’ve come to expect — yet Mumbai Indians (MI) chose a path that felt almost calm in comparison. The reigning champions arrived with a clear idea of what wins titles: stability. And they doubled down on it.
With Harmanpreet Kaur at the helm — now freshly decorated with a 2025 World Cup title — MI emerged from the auction room with their championship core reinforced, their big overseas stars reunited, and one blockbuster signing that stole the show.
Mumbai Indians’ WPL 2026 Strategy: Keep the Core, Strengthen the Edges
While franchises scrambled for balance, MI operated more like a team that already knows its identity. They retained five major names ahead of the auction:
Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, and wicketkeeper G Kamalini.
But the headline moment? Their expensive, calculated reunion with Amelia Kerr. Having released the Kiwi all-rounder before the auction, MI returned with intent — and ₹3 crore — making Kerr the most expensive overseas signing of WPL 2026.
MI’s buying strategy this season felt like stitching old strengths with new sparks:
Players Bought at WPL 2026 Mega Auction
- Amelia Kerr – ₹3 crore
- Sajeevan Sajana – ₹75 lakh
- Shabnim Ismail – ₹60 lakh
- Nicola Carey – ₹30 lakh
- Saika Ishaque – ₹30 lakh
- Triveni Vasistha – ₹20 lakh
- Sanskriti Gupta – ₹20 lakh
- Nalla Reddy – ₹10 lakh
- Rahila Firdous – ₹10 lakh
- Poonam Khemnar – ₹10 lakh
- Milly Illingworth – ₹10 lakh
The highlight is obvious: almost the entire title-winning core is intact, and the bowling looks richer with Ismail, Saika, and the promising Milly Illingworth all available.
MI Possible Playing XI for WPL 2026
It’s the kind of lineup that doesn’t just look balanced — it looks dangerous:
- Hayley Matthews
- Nat Sciver-Brunt
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Amelia Kerr
- Amanjot Kaur
- Poonam Khemnar
- G Kamalini (wk)
- Sajeevan Sajana
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Shabnim Ismail
- Saika Ishaque
Four world-class all-rounders in the top six. Raw pace. Smart spin. This XI screams continuity and championship hunger.
Alyssa Healy Going Unsold: Coaches Explain the Shock of the Auction
One of the most talked-about twists of the day came early. Alyssa Healy — a marquee name, one of the world’s best wicketkeeper-batters — went unsold.
Not once.
Not even in the accelerated round.
Coaches later shed light on the decision, and their reasoning revealed how the WPL’s overseas-player restrictions are reshaping auction priorities.
Why RCB Passed on Healy
RCB assistant coach Anya Shrubsole said the franchise simply didn’t have the space in their top order. Georgia Voll offers part-time off-spin and Richa Ghosh is already locked in as a wicketkeeper.
Why UP Warriorz Didn’t Re-sign Her
UPW coach Abhishek Nayar acknowledged the difficulty of squeezing a specialist opener when teams are chasing multi-skill players to fit the four-overseas rule.
Delhi Capitals?
Jonathan Batty revealed they did rate her, but they ultimately leaned toward squad flexibility over a big-name specialist.
Healy, who entered at a ₹50 lakh base price, now becomes the biggest unsold surprise of WPL 2026 — despite recent ODI World Cup hundreds and solid WBBL form.
WPL 2026 Mega Auction: Record Buys, Big Winners, and Key Trends
If Deepti Sharma walked out of this auction with a glow, it’s because she became the costliest player of WPL 2026. UP Warriorz used an RTM card to bring her back for a jaw-dropping ₹3.2 crore, tying her for the second-highest price in WPL history.
Other Top Buys of the Day
- Sophie Devine – ₹2 crore (Gujarat Giants)
- Meg Lanning – ₹1.9 crore (UP Warriorz)
- Shikha Pandey – ₹2.4 crore (UPW)
- Phoebe Litchfield – ₹1.2 crore (UPW)
- Asha Sobhana – ₹1.1 crore (UPW)
- Laura Wolvaardt – ₹1.1 crore (Delhi Capitals)
- Chinelle Henry & Sree Charani – ₹1.3 crore each (DC)
A total of 67 players were sold, including 23 overseas stars, with ₹40.8 crore spent across teams.
Final Squads of All WPL Teams After the Mega Auction
Below is the full snapshot of how each squad looks heading into WPL 2026.
Mumbai Indians WPL 2026 Squad
Retained:
Harmanpreet Kaur, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Hayley Matthews, Amanjot Kaur, G Kamalini
Bought:
Amelia Kerr, Shabnim Ismail, Sanskriti Gupta, Sajeevan Sajana, Rahila Firdous, Nicola Carey, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, Saika Ishaque, Milly Illingworth
Delhi Capitals Squad
Jemimah Rodrigues, Shafali Verma, Annabel Sutherland, Marizanne Kapp, Niki Prasad, Laura Wolvaardt, Chinelle Henry, Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Lizelle Lee, Taniya Bhatia, Deeya Yadav, Mamatha Madiwala, Nandani Sharma, Lucy Hamilton, Minnu Mani
Royal Challengers Bengaluru Squad
Smriti Mandhana, Richa Ghosh, Ellyse Perry, Shreyanka Patil, Georgia Voll, Nadine de Klerk, Radha Yadav, Lauren Bell, Linsey Smith, Prema Rawat (RTM), Arundathi Reddy, Pooja Vastrakar, Grace Harris, Gautami Naik, Prathyoosha Kumar, D Hemalatha
Gujarat Giants Squad
Ashleigh Gardner, Beth Mooney, Sophie Devine, Renuka Singh, Bharti Fulmali (RTM), Titas Sadhu, Kashvee Gautam (RTM), Kanika Ahuja, Tanuja Kanwar, Georgia Wareham, Anushka Sharma, Happy Kumari, Kim Garth, Yastika Bhatia, Shivani Singh, Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Ayushi Soni
UP Warriorz Squad
Shweta Sehrawat, Deepti Sharma (RTM), Sophie Ecclestone (RTM), Meg Lanning, Phoebe Litchfield, Kiran Navgire (RTM), Harleen Deol, Kranti Goud (RTM), Asha Sobhana, Deandra Dottin, Shikha Pandey, Shipra Giri, Simran Shaikh, Tara Norris, Chloe Tryon, Suman Meena, G Trisha, Pratika Rawal
MI Full Squad WPL 2026: Final Word
The 2026 WPL season is already bubbling with storylines — MI’s faith in their core, UPW’s big-money spree, DC’s all-rounder focus, and the unexpected silence around Alyssa Healy. But if there’s one certainty emerging from this auction, it’s this:
Mumbai Indians aren’t just defending champions — they look like a dynasty in motion.
Note: All information and images used in this content are sourced from Google. They are used here for informational and illustrative purposes only.
FAQs: MI Full Squad WPL 2026 – Everything You Need to Know
1. What does the MI Full Squad WPL 2026 look like after the mega auction?
The MI Full Squad WPL 2026 features a balanced mix of retained stars and smart auction picks. With Harmanpreet Kaur leading the unit, MI have retained their championship-winning core while bringing back Amelia Kerr for ₹3 crore, alongside key additions like Nicola Carey, Triveni Vasistha, and Milly Illingworth.
2. Who are the retained players in the MI Full Squad WPL 2026?
The MI Full Squad WPL 2026 retained list includes five players:
- Harmanpreet Kaur
- Nat Sciver-Brunt
- Hayley Matthews
- Amanjot Kaur
- G Kamalini
These retentions ensure MI enter WPL 2026 with strong stability and experience.
3. Why did MI spend ₹3 crore on Amelia Kerr for the MI Full Squad WPL 2026?
MI made Amelia Kerr their most expensive overseas signing because they value her as a world-class all-rounder who fits perfectly into their core. Despite not retaining her initially, MI fought hard to bring her back into the MI Full Squad WPL 2026, highlighting her importance to their strategy.
4. Which new players did Mumbai Indians buy for the MI Full Squad WPL 2026?
In the auction, MI added several impactful players to the MI Full Squad WPL 2026, including:
- Amelia Kerr
- Shabnim Ismail
- Sajeevan Sajana
- Saika Ishaque
- Nicola Carey
- Triveni Vasistha
- Nalla Reddy
- Poonam Khemnar
- Rahila Firdous
- Sanskriti Gupta
- Milly Illingworth
5. What is the strongest possible playing XI from the MI Full Squad WPL 2026?
A competitive XI from the MI Full Squad WPL 2026 could be:
Hayley Matthews, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Amelia Kerr, Amanjot Kaur, Poonam Khemnar, G Kamalini (WK), Sajeevan Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta, Shabnim Ismail, Saika Ishaque.
6. How does MI Full Squad WPL 2026 compare with other teams this season?
The MI Full Squad WPL 2026 stands out due to its experience, depth, and match-winning allrounders. While UP Warriorz dominated the auction with big RTM moves, MI focused on retaining their championship chemistry and strengthening specific areas like spin and pace.
7. Why did MI not bid for Alyssa Healy while building the MI Full Squad WPL 2026?
MI already retained wicketkeeper G Kamalini and therefore didn’t need another specialist keeper. Their strategy prioritized all-rounders and squad balance, which made Healy unnecessary for the MI Full Squad WPL 2026.
8. Who is the most expensive player in the MI Full Squad WPL 2026?
New Zealand all-rounder Amelia Kerr, bought for ₹3 crore, is the highest-paid member of the MI Full Squad WPL 2026, and also the costliest overseas player in the entire WPL 2026 auction.
9. Did MI manage to retain their core bowling unit in the MI Full Squad WPL 2026?
Yes. MI successfully brought back Shabnim Ismail and Saika Ishaque, ensuring their bowling attack remains strong and familiar in the MI Full Squad WPL 2026.
10. How many total players are included in the MI Full Squad WPL 2026?
Mumbai Indians finalized 16 players for the MI Full Squad WPL 2026, balancing overseas picks, domestic talent, and proven match-winners.
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