Aakash Chopra, former India international and prominent cricket analyst, anticipates that the Mumbai Indians (MI) will zero in on Yuzvendra Chahal at the upcoming IPL mega-auction in Jeddah. The veteran leg-spinner, who took 66 wickets for Rajasthan Royals over the past three seasons, will re-enter the auction pool with a base price of INR 2 crore after not being retained by his franchise, despite his significant match-winning performances.

Chopra believes that Mumbai’s focus this season will be on reinforcing their bowling attack, a department that has lagged in recent years. In his analysis, Mumbai might aim to construct a formidable Indian batting lineup while reserving their overseas slots primarily for pace bowlers to complement Jasprit Bumrah.

For spin, Aakash Chopra sees Chahal as an ideal addition but also mentions Washington Sundar as a potential alternative for MI’s spin unit. “Their batting is back to being strong, but bowling was a weak point last season,” Chopra explained on his YouTube channel.

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“Mumbai often managed to score in the 225-250 range, but their bowlers struggled to defend it. You can’t always rely on your batting to put up 20-40 extra runs each game; it’s unsustainable. I expect them to pursue Chahal aggressively. If that doesn’t work out, Sundar could be another valuable choice for them.”

Chopra also pointed out Mumbai’s need for a reliable wicketkeeper-batsman. Despite purchasing Ishan Kishan for INR 15.25 crore in the 2022 auction, he was released before the 2025 season. Chopra suspects Mumbai will try to reacquire Kishan, though he acknowledges the budget constraints, with MI’s remaining purse set at INR 45 crore, might make it difficult. If Kishan’s price soars, MI could shift focus to alternatives like Quinton de Kock or Phil Salt.

“They’ll definitely be after Ishan Kishan but might not secure him with the budget they have. If that’s the case, de Kock is a good option since they need a keeper who can also open. Phil Salt also fits that slot well. Jitesh Sharma is another potential candidate, though he doesn’t exactly fulfill the opener’s role,” Aakash Chopra concluded.

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With these strategies in mind, Mumbai Indians appear ready to bolster their lineup, with a keen eye on securing a balanced team that doesn’t rely solely on batting firepower but also has a dependable bowling arsenal for the upcoming IPL season.