Former India player Aakash Chopra has stated that the Mumbai Indians (MI) do not have much room for change in their roster heading into the IPL 2026. He pointed out that the spin-bowling problems they encountered in the 2025 IPL will be fixed by Allah Ghazanfar’s anticipated availability for the upcoming season.
MI finished fourth in the IPL 2025 league phase with 16 points from 14 games. They defeated the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the elimination round, but they were eliminated from the competition after losing to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the 2 qualifier.
The former India opener emphasized the Mumbai Indians’ spin-bowling problems in the 2025 Indian Premier League in a video posted on his YouTube channel, “Aakash Chopra.” He believed that Ghazanfar’s possible availability would allay that worry for the upcoming campaign.
“I feel there is no scope for change now either. As soon as Allah Ghazanfar gets fit, he will seamlessly fit in, because, at one stage, it seemed like you weren’t using Mitchell Santner properly. You didn’t have that much confidence and you didn’t have a second spin option.”
Aakash Chopra
“Suddenly, towards the end, we felt that they were one spinner short. They weren’t playing Karn Sharma regularly. They were playing Santner but weren’t making him bowl. It means you were missing a gun spinner, and Allah Ghazanfar is one. I feel things will change with him coming in.”
Aakash Chopra
In the IPL 2025 auction, Allah Ghazanfar was purchased by the Mumbai Indians for ₹4.80 crore. Due to a fracture in his L4 vertebra, the Afghanistan spinner was unable to participate in the just finished season of the famous tournament. Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who was unable to play a game, took his place in the MI squad.
“Reece Topley will have to be released” – Aakash Chopra on MI’s Bowling Woes in IPL 2025
Aakash Chopra stated in the same video that the Mumbai Indians should strengthen their seam-bowling unit and that Reece Topley should be freed.
“There will be a question for sure whether the squad can be made better. I feel a little more work can be done on fast bowling. They have Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah. Ashwani Kumar did a good job, but they didn’t have a fifth pacer. Reece Topley will have to be released. You will keep Corbin Bosch.”
Aakash Chopra
The former player turned analyst continued on to say that MI may like to keep Jonny Bairstow on as a backup overseas wicketkeeper-batter in addition to Ryan Rickelton.
“I feel they will try to keep Jonny Bairstow as well. You get another option with Ryan Rickelton at the start. If no one retires and everyone continues playing, I don’t feel there is much scope for change. They will try to make the fast-bowling attack slightly stronger from an Indian standpoint. Allah Ghazanfar will change the fortunes of this team.”
Aakash Chopra
The Mumbai Indians will be unable to retain Jonny Bairstow ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, as he was brought in as a substitute player when the competition resumed following a few days’ suspension. The England batsman-wicketkeeper can be re-acquired by the five-time champions at the auction, though.
