3 players MI should consider trading in after IPL 2025 ft. Rahul Chahar 

Five-time IPL champions, Mumbai Indians (MI), experienced a rollercoaster campaign in the 2025 edition of the tournament. Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, MI had a disastrous start, losing four of their first five matches.

However, they managed a remarkable turnaround, winning six consecutive games and seven out of their last nine to finish fourth in the points table and secure a playoff berth.

They defeated the Gujarat Titans (GT) in the Eliminator but lost to the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Qualifier 2. For a team packed with stars, not reaching the final is a disappointing outcome.

It also extends MI’s title drought to five seasons, an unusual stretch for one of the IPL’s most successful franchises. As they look ahead to IPL 2026, the MI think tank would be eager to reassess their squad and strengthen key areas.

On that note, here’s a look at three players the Mumbai Indians should consider trading in after IPL 2025 to bolster their title chances.

3 players MI should consider trading in after IPL 2025

#1 Rahul Chahar

One area where the Mumbai Indians have consistently struggled in recent seasons is their spin department. In IPL 2025, Mitchell Santner performed reasonably well, taking 10 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 31.30 and an economy rate of 7.92. Karn Sharma chipped in with seven wickets from six games, while newcomer Vignesh Puthur impressed with six wickets in five matches before an injury prematurely ended his debut season.

Despite these contributions, MI’s spin attack lacked consistency and genuine match-winning impact. To address this, the franchise could consider bringing back Rahul Chahar.

The 25-year-old featured in just one game for the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) in IPL 2025, bowling a single over, making it unlikely that SRH will retain him for the next season. This presents MI with a golden opportunity to re-sign the leg-spinner.

Rahul played a key role in Mumbai's title-winning campaigns in 2019 and 2020. During his stint with the franchise from 2019 to 2021, he picked up 41 wickets in 39 matches at an average of 25.83 and an economy of 7.41. Overall, Chahar has played 79 IPL games, claiming 75 wickets. With his experience and proven record, bringing him back could be the solution to MI’s long-standing spin troubles.

#2 Aaron Hardie

Another player the Mumbai Indians could consider trading in is Australian all-rounder Aaron Hardie. The 26-year-old was picked up by the Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of the 2025 season for ₹1.25 crore, though he didn’t get a single opportunity to play and has yet to make his IPL debut.

Mumbai can take advantage of this situation and bring him into their setup, given his all-round potential. Hardie has played 84 T20 matches, scoring 1,464 runs at an average of 26.14 with a strike rate of 130.71, including six half-centuries. With the ball, he has claimed 41 wickets at an economy rate of 8.67.

Additionally, Hardie has represented Australia in 13 T20Is, meaning he has valuable experience at the highest level. His inclusion could be a smart move for Mumbai, who currently lack a reliable seam-bowling all-rounder apart from their captain, Hardik Pandya.

Should Hardik be unavailable due to injury or rest, Hardie could step in as a like-for-like replacement. In favorable conditions, both of them could even feature together, offering MI a strong and versatile seam-bowling all-rounder combination, something the team has been missing in recent seasons.

#3 T. Natarajan

While the Mumbai Indians already boast a strong pace attack, featuring Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, and Ashwini Kumar, they could make it even more formidable by adding T. Natarajan to the mix. The 34-year-old was bought by the Delhi Capitals for ₹10.75 crore ahead of IPL 2025 but featured in only two matches as he was recovering from an injury.

Given Deepak Chahar’s history of injuries and the possibility of Bumrah being rested due to workload management, a fully fit Natarajan could be a valuable addition. His presence would provide MI with a reliable left-arm pace option and strengthen their pace-bowling depth.

Natarajan has played 63 IPL matches in his career, taking 67 wickets at an average of 30.11 and an economy rate of 8.93. His best bowling figures stand at 4/19. Known for his pinpoint yorkers and ability to deliver in pressure situations, Natarajan could bring balance and versatility to Mumbai’s already potent bowling unit.

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