Mumbai Indians enter the WPL 2027 auction intent on plugging their weaknesses as they aim for their third trophy. They will enter the event on October 28 with the smallest available purse among the five franchises.

The Harmanpreet Kaur-led side has retained most of its core. They have also completed the acquisition of Tara Norris from UP Warriorz for ₹10 lakh. Now, they will have the chance to fill six spots at the auction, all reserved for Indian players.

Wicketkeepers: Rahila Firdous

All-rounders: Nat Sciver-Brunt ✈️, Hayley Matthews ✈️, Amelia Kerr ✈️, Nicola Carey ✈️, Amanjot Kaur, S Sajana, Sanskriti Gupta

Bowlers: Shabnim Ismail ✈️, Tara Norris ✈️, Vaishnavi Sharma

Ahead of the auction, Mumbai have released six players: G Kamalini, Saika Ishaque, Poonam Khemnar, Triveni Vasistha, Nalla Reddy, and Milly Illingworth.

Mumbai Indians initially had seven vacant spots, but Norris' arrival has left them with six to fill. The trade also completed their overseas quota.

In batting, Harmanpreet Kaur and Sciver-Brunt's presence in the middle order makes the line-up look formidable. Skipper Kaur was their highest run-scorer last season and has looked even better with the bat in recent times. Sciver-Brunt has been that ever-consistent presence in their line-up.

With Kerr not having the best of times with the bat in WPL 2026, they were somewhat overdependent on Kaur and Sciver-Brunt. Hayley Matthews' injury and illness made their opening combination a weak point. Ultimately, they settled for Sajana and Matthews, but the results were not convincing. Hence, one of their primary targets could be an Indian top-order batter.

The bowling department looks more settled. While Kerr was inconsistent with the bat, she picked up 14 wickets last season and was a major weapon for them in the middle overs. Shabnim Ismail's pace and experience remain a formidable threat to the other teams. Now, Norris's arrival will only add flexibility and dynamism. With Vaishnavi Sharma and Sanskriti Gupta, they also have adequate cover in the Indian spin department; however, they might look to add more experience here.

One of the biggest surprise moves was MI's decision to release G Kamalini. Her departure has left them with only one wicketkeeper in Rahila Firdous. So, it looks like they will be looking to bolster their Indian batting depth while searching for another keeper and domestic bowling cover. With ₹15 lakh available per spot on average, they cannot afford an extravagant strategy at the auction.

While those numbers show that she can be explosive at the top, Trisha has also demonstrated her ability to anchor an innings in the domestic arena. Besides, she can contribute with the ball, which can offer MI further flexibility in team selection.

Trisha will be on the radars of several franchises, so if she becomes too expensive, Mumbai can go for Vrinda Dinesh. She will also be available at a base price of ₹10 lakh. In the 2025-26 Senior Women's T20 Trophy, Dinesh scored at a strike rate of 142.98, showing that she too could give MI the firepower they are looking for at the top.

Shivani Singh, at a ₹10 lakh base price, could be a great option for the two-time champions. In the Senior Women's T20 Trophy, Singh scored 250 runs in seven innings. Although she has limited WPL experience, her domestic displays suggest she can provide batting depth to MI, along with wicketkeeping.

They can go up to ₹15-20 lakh for Singh, but if her price soars beyond that, MI can consider Latika Inamdar of Vidarbha. She could be an economical alternative at a ₹10 lakh base price, while Bhavika Ahire could also be an option in the same price bracket.

Shabnam Shakil could provide valuable Indian pace cover. She demonstrated her abilities by dismissing Alyssa Healy, Chamari Athapaththu and Shweta Sehrawat in her spell of 3/11 against UP Warriorz in the 2024 season. A budget of around ₹15 lakh can be allocated to acquire her services.

Mumbai will be looking for experience in their Indian spin department. Parunika Sisodia, at a ₹10 lakh base price, could be a good option. She will add depth alongside Vaishnavi Sharma, and her previous experience with the team could prove useful.

An out-of-the-box pick could be Ira Jadhav. She made headlines for scoring 346 off 157 balls against Meghalaya in the Under-19 Women's One-Day Trophy. Yes, it was age-group cricket, but at a ₹10 lakh base price, she looks like a promising prospect.

They have won the title twice, and their core has mostly been retained. So, they do not need to look for transformative buys. However, they should seek to deepen their squad and secure adequate domestic cover, while ensuring that the new additions do not disrupt their established balance.