Mumbai Indians (MI) finally made the trade everyone was talking about. They traded Hardik Pandya to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) and got Arshdeep Singh in a simple two-player swap. However, the importance of getting an Indian pacer, who is young and brilliant, is massive for the MI franchise.
However, this means there will be a few places that Mumbai Indians might have to release ahead of the IPL 2027 auction. Bringing in Arshdeep Singh means they have an amazing bowling combo with Jasprit Bumrah at helm, and there will be a few players that MI will have to off-load, and today we see three players MI might release before the IPL 2027 auction.
Here are the 3 players who might be released by the Mumbai Indians (MI) after Arshdeep Singh’s trade:
3. Ashwani Kumar
In Arshdeep Singh, the Mumbai Indians have an experienced left-arm pacer, who is amazing with the new ball and in death overs. The 25-year-old left-arm pacer Ashwani Kumar might be one pacer who MI might release ahead of IPL 2027. Ashwani made his IPL debut in the 2025 IPL and picked 4/24 in his debut game. However, with MI getting a proper fast bowling unit, Ashwani could only manage 3 games in IPL 2026. Ashwani provided the left-arm angle to the MI attack, but with Arshdeep Singh being the more experienced one, expect MI to release Ashwani into the mini-auction.
2. Trent Boult
Trent Boult won the IPL in 2020 with the Mumbai Indians, then came back in IPL 2025 and took 22 wickets in 16 matches as MI reached the playoffs. Yet the IPL 2026 season was the worst for the former New Zealand pacer, since he could manage only 2 wickets in 5 games. Boult still had his old swing, but his pace had dropped. With Arshdeep Singh arriving as the main Indian pace option, MI no longer needs Boult, and given his declining form, the New Zealand pacer is expected to be released.
1. Deepak Chahar
Deepak Chahar took 8 wickets in 8 matches in IPL 2026, but he conceded runs at an economy of 10.39, whereas his 11 wickets in IPL 2025 came at an economy of 9.17. Given his inability to bowl economically, Chahar is a liability for MI. MI’s bowling performance in IPL 2026 was poor, with even Jasprit Bumrah managing just 4 wickets. However, the lack of support for Bumrah hurt MI, but with Arshdeep Singh now in the squad, the franchise has the backup that Chahar could not provide.
