Aakash Chopra picks MI retentions ahead of IPL 2027 auction; keeps Deepak Chahar but releases veteran player worth ₹12.50 crore

Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra has laid out the retention calls he believes Mumbai Indians (MI) should make before the IPL 2027 auction (via Crex. Live Instagram handle). He wanted MI to retain Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford, Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar, and Will Jacks.

Trent Boult, in Chopra's reading, should go, with the money freed up used to buy other pieces.

Hardik's IPL 2026 was modest by his standards: 206 runs at a strike rate of 138.25 across 10 innings, and four wickets at an economy rate of 11.42 in nine innings with the ball. He also missed games, with Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah captaining in his absence. Chopra's preference is to hold on to him rather than trade him, despite months of reports linking the all-rounder with moves elsewhere.

Rutherford, who arrived from Gujarat Titans in a trade, is on a contract worth ₹2.6 crore. Jacks, the England all-rounder, missed the start of the season after arriving late, but Chopra's view is that his hitting and off-spin give MI a second route to the same balance.

Santner, signed at ₹2 crore, took five wickets at an economy rate of 8.92 in four innings last IPL season.

Chahar, signed for ₹9.25 crore, is the pick that will raise eyebrows. He took 11 wickets in 14 matches in IPL 2025 and struggled for rhythm in 2026. Boult, on a ₹12.50 crore deal, was MI's leading wicket-taker in IPL 2025 with 22 wickets at an economy rate of 8.96 in 16 innings. His returns fell away in 2026, with only two wickets in five matches at an economy rate of 11.60.

MI's IPL 2026: A ninth-place finish and a coaching shake-up

MI endured a dismal IPL 2026 season, winning four of 14 league games, finishing ninth with eight points and a net run rate of minus 0.584, and becoming the second team eliminated after Lucknow Super Giants.

The fallout came quickly. On October 17, MI announced that Mahela Jayawardene would step down as head coach, ending a second stint that started in October 2024.

MI announced on October 24 that Kieron Pollard, batting coach for the previous four seasons and a five-time IPL champion as a player, would take charge as head coach. A week later, Robin Uthappa, Mitchell McClenaghan, T Dilip and Dhawal Kulkarni were named batting, bowling, fielding and development bowling coaches, with Lasith Malinga, Paras Mhambrey and Carl Hopkinson leaving.

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