Mumbai Indians Look Complete but Spin Concern Lingers Ahead of IPL 2026

Mumbai Indians head into the 2026 Indian Premier League season with what appears to be a near-complete squad, leaving little room for shortcomings.

Apart from a slight concern in the spin department, the five-time champions look well equipped across all sections and are expected to be one of the teams to watch.

Having last lifted the trophy in 2020, MI will be driven to end their title drought.

Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, the side is expected to come out aggressively this season, with particular focus on a refreshed top order led by a leaner and fitter Rohit Sharma.

Former India all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin has backed Rohit to overcome his underwhelming run in recent IPL seasons and rediscover his batting form.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said, "I personally think this is going to be a season where Rohit will really take it on.”

Can Rohit Sharma Rediscover His T20 Form for Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026?

“He does not need to play cricket for the whole season. He is getting enough breaks. His mind is fresh. He is physically in a good space. He looks really fit. And I think this could well be a season where Rohit Sharma is going to bring back his T20 batting in the IPL,” he added.

"But this could be a great opportunity for him to really restore that. And I, personally, think he can go on to enjoy his season and do some incredible things for Mumbai Indians this season," he added.

MI will begin their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai on March 29.

Rohit, who has retired from T20Is and Tests, will enter the season as a one-format player. His form will be crucial to the team’s pursuit of a sixth title.

Despite being the second-highest run-getter in IPL history with 7,046 runs in 272 matches at a strike rate of 132.09, Rohit has struggled to deliver consistently in recent years.

His last 450-plus season came in 2016 when he scored 489 runs. His best season remains 2013, when he amassed 538 runs.

Since 2016, he has crossed 400 runs only three times. Over the past nine seasons, he has scored 3,172 runs in 129 innings at an average of 26.00, including one century and 18 fifties.

Last season, he made 418 runs in 15 innings at an average of 29.86 and a strike rate of 149.29.

How Strong Is the Batting Line-Up of Mumbai Indians Heading Into IPL 2026?

Mumbai’s batting line-up appears formidable, with options such as Quinton de Kock or Ryan Rickelton at the top alongside Rohit.

The middle order features Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, all of whom had solid outings at the T20 World Cup and will aim to carry that form into the IPL.

The lower order adds further firepower with Sherfane Rutherford, Will Jacks and Naman Dhir providing depth and flexibility.

Ashwin expressed strong confidence in the team’s overall balance and expectations for the season.

"If Mumbai do not make the top 2 this year, it will be a huge upset for me. They have put a gun side together," the former CSK-all rounder said.

"The Mumbai Indians' worst performance will be qualifying in the top four. The best performance will be qualifying in the top two. Actually, I will rate the best performance if they come first, not even top two," Ashwin added.

Is Spin the Only Weak Link in Mumbai Indians’ Squad for IPL 2026?

While Mumbai appear well covered in batting and pace bowling, their spin department could be an area of concern.

Santner stands out as the only experienced spinner, while options such as Will Jacks, Mayank Markande and Afghanistan’s young mystery spinner Allah Mohammad Ghazanfar offer support but lack extensive experience.

The pace attack, however, remains a major strength. Led by Jasprit Bumrah, it includes Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar for the powerplay, along with the experience of Shardul Thakur.

Ashwin added that competition from defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru could pose a challenge, but maintained that Mumbai have the capability to finish in the top two.

"If the Mumbai Indians are not there in the top two, it means they have chosen bad combinations, or they have complicated it for themselves, or some other teams have played splendid cricket," he said.

(With inputs from ANI)