5 MI players who could be released before IPL 2027

The five-time champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), who are the joint-most successful side of the competition, Mumbai Indians (MI), went through a slump during the 2026 season as they finished in the ninth position of the points table with just four wins in 14 clashes at a net run rate of -0.584.

There was hardly anyone who predicted Mumbai wouldn’t make it to the qualifiers of the IPL 2026, given the balance and strength the Hardik Pandya-led side had in this campaign, especially the presence of Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, and many more foreign players.

But things didn’t go in the right manner for the franchise, who earned just a couple of victories in the first nine clashes of the competition. Their captain didn’t play a few games this season for various reasons, while the form of Bumrah and SKY came under scrutiny.

A ninth-place wake-up call — Which 5 MI stars could be axed for IPL 2027?

Finishing at nine allows the franchise to make a few hard calls on the players heading into the IPL 2027 mini-auction. They may need to filter out a few old players and watch out for freshness and youngsters. Could there be a leadership change? That thought would remain on the table.

Here are the five star players Mumbai Indians (MI) can release ahead of the IPL 2027 season-

#1 Hardik Pandya- 206 runs & 4 wickets in 2026

Since his comeback to the Mumbai Indians after winning the IPL 2022 and reaching the finals to finish as the runners-up in 2023 for the Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya has gone through a tough phase in his career with poor batting and bowling performances.

Since his return to the side in 2024, Hardik hasn’t scored a single fifty with the bat, while in 2026, he collected only 206 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 138.25 and picked up only four wickets at an economy rate of 11.42.

Mumbai may look to release their captain ahead of the mini auction or trade the player with another side. If they release the veteran, that will add up to INR 16.35 crore to their purse.

#2 Trent Boult- 02 wickets in 2026

Trent Boult’s comeback to the Mumbai side in the IPL 2025 was superb when he picked up 22 wickets in 16 innings at an average of 23.50 and an economy rate of under nine. But in 2026, he has picked up only two wickets in five innings at an economy rate of 11.62.

Boult will be over 37 by the start of the new IPL season. And MI may look for a youngster, heading into the mini-auction ahead of the IPL 2027.

If the management releases the former New Zealand pacer, that will add up to INR 12.50 crore to the team’s purse.

#3 Mayank Markande- 00 wickets in three innings in 2026

Mayank Markande’s best season of the IPL came with the Mumbai Indians in 2018 when he picked up 15 wickets in 14 innings at an average of 24.53 and an economy rate of 8.36. The 28-year-old’s IP< 2026 was shocking, with no wickets in three innings at an economy rate of 15.20.

That must be enough for the Mumbai side to leave out the spinner before the mini auction of the IPL 2027. They can look for different Indian spinners or rely more on the foreign spinners like Mitchell Santner and Allah Ghazanfar, who were excellent in the recent edition.

#4 Suryakumar Yadav- 270 runs in 13 innings in 2026

The Mumbai Indians may not want to release Suryakumar Yadav, but the veteran may himself get out of the side and enter the mini-auction ahead of the IPL 2027. After a superb campaign in 2025 when he smashed 717 runs at a strike rate of 167.91, Sky managed only 270 runs in 2026 at an average of 20.76 with two fifties to his name.

Will the franchise take a chance by leaving the T20 World Cup winner? They may, with the veteran being dropped from the national side. Moreover, he will be over 36 by the next season.

In his potential absence, the franchise will also get INR 16.35 crore in their purse, heading into the auction.

#5 Deepak Chahar- 8 wickets in IPL 2026

Deepak Chahar came into the MI side in 2025, when he picked up 11 wickets in 14 innings at an economy rate of 9.17 and an average of 34.18. The Indian pacer followed it up with a tough edition in 2026 when he could pick up only eight wickets in eight innings at an economy rate of 10.39.

There was a massive expectation from the fans that the Indian pacer would stand up, especially when Bumrah struggled with form. But Chahar couldn’t. MI may release the player and get back their INR 9.25 crore. They may buy him back at a lower price if needed.

They may look to release Quinton de Kock, despite him scoring a century, having already got the strong and stable opening partnership of Rohit and Ryan Rickleton, who can earn massive success in IPL 2027.