Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time IPL champions, entered the IPL 2026 mini-auction with the smallest purse among all ten franchises — just Rs 2.75 crore. Despite the financial constraint, the franchise pulled off a shrewd and impactful move by re-signing their former wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock for a modest Rs 1 crore, adding experience and depth to an already strong squad.
De Kock’s return provides MI with a reliable backup option for Ryan Rickelton, the South African wicketkeeper-batter who impressed during his maiden IPL season earlier this year. The franchise had released uncapped wicketkeeper Krishnan Shrijith ahead of the auction after he failed to feature in a single match. The inclusion of de Kock not only strengthens MI’s bench but also brings back a player who understands the team’s culture and expectations.
Quinton de Kock’s Proven Mumbai Indians Legacy
Quinton de Kock previously represented Mumbai Indians for three seasons between 2019 and 2021, during which he played a crucial role at the top of the order. He scored 529 runs in 2019, followed by 503 runs in 2020, and 297 runs in 2021, contributing consistently across seasons.
Released by Kolkata Knight Riders ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, de Kock comes with vast IPL experience, having played for six different franchises. Across 115 IPL matches, he has accumulated 3,309 runs at an average of 30.63 and an impressive strike rate of 134.02, making his acquisition at Rs 1 crore a value buy for MI.
MI Focus on Youth Amid Budget Constraints
With very limited funds remaining, Mumbai Indians avoided bidding wars and instead invested in uncapped domestic talent, securing four young players at the base price of Rs 30 lakh each. These include Danish Malewar, Mohammed Izhar, Atharva Ankolekar, and Mayank Rawat, signalling the franchise’s continued belief in grooming future stars.
Players Bought by Mumbai Indians at IPL 2026 Auction
- Quinton de Kock – Rs 1 crore
- Danish Malewar – Rs 30 lakh
- Mohammed Izhar – Rs 30 lakh
- Atharva Ankolekar – Rs 30 lakh
- Mayank Rawat – Rs 30 lakh
Mumbai Indians Retained Players for IPL 2026
Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Ryan Rickelton, Robin Minz, Mitchell Santner, Corbin Bosch, Naman Dhir, Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Allah Ghafanzar, Ashwani Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Will Jacks, Raghu Sharma, Raj Angad Bawa
Traded-In Players
- Sherfane Rutherford (from Gujarat Titans)
- Mayank Markande (from Kolkata Knight Riders)
- Shardul Thakur (from Lucknow Super Giants)
Released Players
Satyanarayana Raju, Reece Topley, Krishnan Shrijith, Karn Sharma, Arjun Tendulkar (traded to LSG), Bevon Jacobs, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Lizaad Williams, Vignesh Puthur