3 players MI must target at the IPL 2026 auction ft. Akash Madhwal

The Mumbai Indians (MI) don't have much work to do at the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction. With the lowest purse among all 10 franchises, the five-time champions are expected to have a fairly calm day on Tuesday, December 16.

However, that doesn't mean that Mumbai don't have ways to strengthen their squad. With five slots up for grabs and many bench roles left to sort out, they could have the opportunity to unearth some uncapped gems, as they have been known to do over the years.

Players released: Arjun Tendulkar (traded to LSG), Bevon Jacobs, Karn Sharma, Lizaad Williams, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Reece Topley, KL Shrijith, PV Satyanarayana Raju, Vignesh Puthur.

Players retained: Shardul Thakur (traded in from LSG), Sherfane Rutherford (traded in from GT), Mayank Markande (traded in from KKR), Allah Ghazanfar, Ashwani Kumar, Corbin Bosch, Deepak Chahar, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Mitchell Santner, Naman Dhir, Raghu Sharma, Raj Bawa, Robin Minz, Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Trent Boult, Will Jacks.

On that note, here are three players MI must target at the IPL 2026 auction.

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#3 Akash Madhwal

IPL 2023: Eliminator - Lucknow Super Giants v Mumbai Indians - Source: Getty

A player who has featured for the franchise before, Akash Madhwal could be on MI's radar for the IPL 2026 auction. The fast bowler isn't expected to fetch a huge sum, having had an underwhelming campaign earlier this year.

Mumbai could use a pacer or two on the bench. Madhwal, whose skiddy nature and yorker accuracy make him tough to hit when he gets it right, might be one of the more budget-friendly picks who can step up off the bench.

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#2 Ashok Sharma

Released by the Rajasthan Royals, Ashok Sharma could prove to be hot property at the IPL 2026 auction. The fast bowler might not fall into MI's budget comfortably, but pushing a little extra for a player of his caliber might not be the worst idea.

Ashok has cranked up the speeds during the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and is one of the quickest bowlers going around in domestic cricket. He can also strike a long ball, making him one of the most exciting prospects.

MI have often picked talented young fast bowlers, and Ashok fits the bill perfectly.

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#1 Tushar Raheja

Following the release of KL Shrijith, Robin Minz and Ryan Rickelton are the only two wicket-keepers on MI's roster. While the former is unlikely to be ready for the IPL level, the latter is in a dreadful run of form.

MI will want to secure a keeping option for the future, ideally one that can bat at the top of the order and allow them to use their other overseas options with flexibility. Tushar Raheja, who had a splendid Tamil Nadu Premier League, might be in the mix.

Raheja didn't set the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on fire, but he had his moments. There's enough to work with, and the fact that he's left-handed will certainly work well for the Mumbai Indians.