Here’s a look at Mumbai Indians’ strongest predicted playing XI for IPL 2026:Rohit Sharma: Rohit Sharma remains the heart and soul of Mumbai Indians, having led the franchise to five IPL titles. He is the second-highest run-scorer in IPL history, with 7,046 runs in 272 matches, and will continue to open the innings with his experience and attacking approach. However his role as impact player will be the talking point this season. Quinton de Kock (WK): After Ryan Rickelton partnered Rohit last season, MI have brought back Quinton de Kock for Rs 1 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction. Given his experience with Mumbai in 2019-2021, he was a key figure in their success, scoring 529, 503, and 297 runs in respective seasons. He is the frontrunner to open alongside Rohit.Tilak Varma: Tilak Varma is in outstanding form in T20 cricket, following a solid T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. He will be a key player at No. 3 considering his match winning performance against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025.Suryakumar Yadav: Suryakumar Yadav was sensational in IPL 2025, scoring 717 runs and emerging as the MVP of the IPL. Despite a relatively quiet T20 World Cup, MI will rely on him to bounce back strongly and anchor the middle order.Will Jacks: Will Jacks is in red hot form with both bat and ball in T20 cricket. He enjoyed a brilliant T20 World Cup 2026, winning four Player of the Match awards. However, MI could consider alternatives of Sherfane Rutherford depending on the match conditions and playing XI match ups, who was traded form Gujarat Titans ahead of Mini auction.Hardik Pandya (C): Captain Hardik Pandya will look to continue his strong form from recent tournaments, including the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup. In IPL 2025, Hardik Pandya displayed elite all-round form, he became the first captain to take a 5-wicket haul in IPL history (5/36), and with bat he maintained a stike rate of 160+Naman Dhir: Naman Dhir was one of MI’s breakout stars in IPL 2025. Retained via RTM for Rs 5.25 crore, he scored 252 runs in 12 innings at a stunning strike rate of 182.60, establishing himself as a reliable middle-order option.Mitchell Santner: Mitchell Santner provides balance with his left-arm spin and lower-order batting. After leading his team to the T20 World Cup final, he will bring a valuable experience and control in the middle overs.Deepak Chahar: Deepak Chahar will play a crucial role with the new ball. Known for his swing bowling, he is particularly effective in the powerplay. Last season, he picked up 11 wickets in 14 matches. Although he hasn’t played many cricket after IPL 2025, his pace and swing in powerplay remains vital.Jasprit Bumrah: The irreplaceable Jasprit Bumrah continues to be MI’s bowling spearhead. Whether in the powerplay, middle overs, or death, he delivers consistently. He picked up 18 wickets in 12 matches last season. After successfull campaign in T20 World Cup 2026, he comes back with the same form for Mumbai.Trent Boult: Trent Boult was exceptional in IPL 2025, taking 22 wickets in 16 matches and finishing as MI’s leading wicket-taker. His ability with the new ball makes him a key asset once again in IPL 2026.Impact Player: Shardul ThakurShardul Thakur returns to Mumbai Indians after being traded from Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 2 crore. The Mumbai-based all-rounder adds depth to the pace attack, having taken 13 wickets in 10 matches in IPL 2025. He could be the first choice impact sub of Mumbai Indians considering his all round performance.

MI’s predicted XI for IPL 2026

In what has been described as one of the deadliest airstrikes carried out by Pakistan on Afghanistan, at least 400 people were killed and around 250 others were injured. Afghanistan’s deputy government spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat said the strike hit a drug rehabilitation hospital, damaging large parts of the 2,000-bed facility. Pakistan has denied the allegations.Ghazanfar highlighted the importance of the facility, stressing that it provided crucial support to vulnerable sections of society. “The people there don’t have money for treatment,” Ghazanfar told CNN News18. “And now, they’ve targeted that place as well; they’ve martyred those people. This is not acceptable to the people of Afghanistan.” Strongly condemning the attack, he also questioned the intent behind such military actions. “I don’t know what they’re trying to prove. They come and target ordinary people, and we simply cannot accept this. Afghanistan cannot accept this,” he said in the interview. “Everyone knows Afghanistan’s history,” he warned. “If that history repeats itself, it will be very bad for Pakistan.”The spinner is yet to make his IPL debut and has featured in 20 matches for Afghanistan so far, picking up 29 wickets across formats.

All-Indian Semifinal Confirmed

Saturday’s semifinals will witness an exciting all-Indian clash between Anahat and Tanvi, guaranteeing a place for India in the final. In the other semifinal, second seed Hana Moataz will face El Hammamy.Anahat Cruises into Last FourAnahat Singh showcased her dominance with a clinical 3–0 (11-2, 11-6, 11-4) victory over Malaysia’s Sehveetrraa Kumar.The top seed stormed through the opening game with ease and maintained control throughout the match. Despite a slightly stronger challenge in the second game, Anahat’s combination of power and deception proved too good, as she comfortably sealed her spot in the semifinals.Tanvi Stuns Fourth SeedTanvi Khanna delivered one of the standout performances of the day, upsetting fourth seed Ainaa Amani 3–1 (11-6, 7-11, 11-5, 11-8).After taking the first game, Tanvi briefly lost momentum as Amani levelled the match, but the Indian regained composure to dominate the final two games and secure her semifinal berth.Joshna Falls to El HammamyJoshna Chinappa started strongly against El Hammamy and even fought back in the second game, but struggled to handle the Egyptian’s pace and precision.El Hammamy raised her intensity in the latter stages to claim the final two games and complete a convincing 3–1 (11-8, 8-11, 11-6, 11-1) victory.Moataz Wins Five-Game ThrillerIn another quarterfinal, Hana Moataz edged past Malaysia’s Yasshmita Jadishkumar in a gripping five-game contest, winning 3–2 (11-8, 8-11, 7-11, 11-7, 11-8).

Results – Women’s Quarterfinals

“MI have given more match-winners to India”

“But what I like about MI is their contribution to Indian cricket. The number of match winners they have produced for the Indian team is absolutely tremendous. How do you achieve that? First, you make your franchise big. Second, you deliver results with the team you have. Even now, MI had a great squad last season that could have easily won the trophy, but they couldn’t for different reasons,” Pathan added. “CSK don’t have four Indian captains, MI do. In that respect, assembling a team and contributing to a bigger cause, I think MI are the greatest IPL team. I know CSK will always say they are also the greatest, having won five trophies too. There is no doubt. There will always be a debate and it is a fair debate. But I think MI take the edge because they have given so many wonderful cricketers and young talents to Indian cricket,” said Pathan on JioStar.

Vaibhav Sooryavanshi faces crucial IPL 2026 season

He also spoke about how the 2026 IPL season would become a crucial learning phase for teenaged batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. The left-hander became the fastest Indian batter to hit a century in the IPL in just 35 balls last year and was retained by Rajasthan Royals (RR) ahead of IPL 2026.Sooryavanshi is also coming on the back of being Player of the Tournament and Player of the Final in the 2026 Men’s U19 World Cup won by India. “This season of the IPL for Vaibhav Suryavanshi will be a learning one. He has played in the tournament last year, he has played domestic cricket, and he is playing cricket in all formats everywhere.“He played in the Under-19 World Cup, he has taken part in the Ranji Trophy with Bihar, and he has scored runs everywhere. In white-ball cricket and red-ball cricket, everyone is taking note of him. Bowlers are doing the same. Since he has played so much cricket since his IPL debut last year, other players are watching his videos and analysing his weaknesses,” he said.

Opposition bowlers set to target weaknesses

Pathan signed off by saying it would be interesting to see if Sooryavanshi upgrades his game when the opposition bowlers target his weak areas. “So he needs to find a way to upgrade his game and work on his weaknesses. He has slammed centuries with ease in all forms of cricket. When you do that consistently, not just in IPL but in domestic cricket, Under-19 cricket and emerging matches, your confidence keeps going higher.

“This IPL season, all bowlers will be ready with their strategies and Vaibhav will be looking to prove a point. He can do that by slamming another hundred in the IPL. When he scores runs consistently this season, that is when we can say Vaibhav Suryavanshi has upgraded his game.”