The Mumbai Indians (MI) who have won five championships will start their IPL 2026 season at Wankhede Stadium when they face the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Sunday March 29. The team tries to win its first championship since 2020 because they want to end the championship drought this season. The MI team kept 20 players on their roster before the IPL 2026 auction which included seven international players. The team acquired five additional athletes during the Abu Dhabi mini-auction. The team signed South African wicketkeeper-batter Quinton de Kock as their largest player acquisition who joined the team at his minimum contract value of ₹1 crore. The franchise also signed four Indian players who lacked professional experience at a rate of ₹30 lakh for each. The MI team will try different bowling combinations while they face KKR in their first match. Bumrah, Trent Boult, Chahar, Pandya and Mitchell Santner: MI could choose to use four fast bowlers together with Mitchell Santner as their primary spin bowler while Will Jacks serves as their sixth bowling choice. The team will use Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult as their primary fast bowlers who will be supported by Deepak Chahar and Hardik Pandya. Chahar can take the new ball if selected, allowing either Boult or Bumrah to bowl as first change. Bumrah can deliver impact as a change bowler, while Boult remains most effective with the new ball and at the death. Some experts believe Bumrah should open the bowling, given his status as MI’s best bowler. MI will use an unknown tactical approach against their upcoming match. The team gains another bowling option through Captain Pandya who has opened T20 matches. Santner performed steadily for MI last season, taking 10 wickets in 13 matches with an average of 31.30 and an economy rate of 7.92. He delivered a standout spell of 3/11 against Delhi Capitals at Wankhede. He will once again play a key role in MI’s plans. Bumrah, Chahar, Pandya, Mitchell Santner and Allah Ghazanfar: The team needs to choose between three pacers Bumrah and Chahar and Pandya and two spinners Santner and Allah Ghazanfar. The team must decide whether to include Boult in the lineup because this decision will prove difficult to make. The team might pursue this option to create an opportunity for their young Afghan spinner. Ghazanfar wants to make his presence felt this season after suffering an injury that prevented him from playing last year. The 20-year-old impressed in ILT20 2025-26 for MI Emirates, picking up 15 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 22.40 and an economy of 7.04. He has achieved a total of 77 wickets through 63 T20 matches while maintaining an average of 19.90 and an economy rate of 6.72. Bumrah, Pandya, Shardul, Mayank Markande and Allah Ghazanfar: The third combination involves two pace-bowling all-rounders Pandya and Shardul Thakur who will assist Bumrah. MI could also adjust their spin attack by bringing in leg-spinner Mayank Markande in place of Santner. The team uses this configuration to let Pandya or Thakur obtain the new ball together with Bumrah. Pandya and Thakur possess the ability to take important wickets, yet they sometimes permit runs to be scored against them. Thakur joined Lucknow Super Giants as a substitute player during the previous season and participated in 10 games while taking 13 wickets, yet his economy rate surpassed 11 runs per over. He brings valuable experience, with 107 IPL wickets to his name. Markande played seven matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2024 and took eight wickets at an average of 32.37 and an economy of 11.77. The 28-year-old owns a strong overall T20 record, with 94 wickets in 93 matches at an average of 25.50 and an economy rate of 7.79 which includes four four-wicket hauls. He will look to grab every opportunity that comes his way.