Will Mumbai Indians get success in this trade?Image Credit source: PTI
Before the IPL 2026 season, all the franchises have intensified their efforts to strengthen their squads. There is still time for the auction to be held for this season, but before that the activity in the trading window has become quite intense. Everyone’s eyes are on the Sanju Samson and Ravindra Jadeja-Sam Curran trade. But apart from these, efforts are on to exchange some other players. In this, 5-time champion Mumbai Indians also seems to be very active. Mumbai, which has failed to win the title for the last 5 seasons, now wants to bring back into the team the player who had helped it win the last title.
Will Rahul Chahar be able to return?
A report in Times of India has claimed that Mumbai Indians is preparing to strengthen its spin department for the next season and for this the franchise has set its sights on two of its old leg spinners, who are currently part of different teams. According to the report, one of them is Rahul Chahar, who is currently a part of Sunrisers Hyderabad but could play only one match in the last IPL season. However, Mumbai has not yet started discussions with Sunrisers Hyderabad for this, but it is eager to bring back its old player.
Rahul Chahar was a part of the Mumbai Indians team, which last won the IPL title in 2020. Since then, Chahar has traveled for Punjab Kings and SRH. But this deal will not be so easy for Mumbai because instead of giving any of its players in this deal, the team wants to pay money but Rahul Chahar’s price is Rs 3.2 crore and at present it does not seem easy for the team to raise such a huge amount.
MI also eyeing other options
Now, if for any reason the talks do not work out regarding Rahul Chahar, then Mumbai may be seen trying for the return of another of its former spinners. It has been reported in the report that Mumbai Indians want to include leg spinner Mayank Markande in the Kolkata Knight Riders squad again. Mumbai also wants to do a cash deal for Mayank and for this it can soon present its proposal to KKR. In terms of price, this deal will be easier for Mumbai because Kolkata had bought Mayank for only Rs 30 lakh. Mayank made his IPL debut for MI in 2018.