Mumbai | Defending champions Mumbai Indians (MI) head into the TATA Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 with a familiar, championship-ready core after a focused and strategic auction. Speaking on the JioStar show ‘TATA WPL: Know Your Team’, experts Saba Karim, Mithali Raj and Anjum Chopra underlined MI’s clear intent to restore their proven formula, with the re-acquisition of Amelia Kerr emerging as the centrepiece of their rebuild.
Explaining MI’s decision to pay a premium to bring Kerr back, JioStar expert Saba Karim said the franchise was determined to reunite the core that delivered them WPL glory.
“Mumbai Indians knew that to rebuild the same title-winning team, they had to take back one or two players they released. Their main target was Amelia Kerr. She has performed very well. MI must have been sad to release her before. That is why they paid a higher price for her now,” Karim said.
“They wanted the core group that won them the WPL title last year. They have brought that core back. So, the money invested in Amelia Kerr is worth it for MI.”
Former India captain Mithali Raj highlighted that Kerr’s return carried both strategic and emotional value for the franchise, given her impact in MI’s most successful campaigns.
“Amelia Kerr being re-signed by Mumbai Indians is also an emotional buy for them. They wanted her in the combination which has worked for them,” Raj said.
“They were champions twice in three seasons with that core, so they really wanted her back as part of it.”
Meanwhile, Anjum Chopra pointed to the overall squad composition as a key strength for Mumbai Indians as they prepare to defend their title. According to him, MI have once again struck the right balance between experience and emerging talent.
“I am excited seeing the balance that Mumbai Indians come in with. They have a combination of youth and experience,” Chopra said.
“Keeping Amanjot Kaur is a different move, but with the kind of talent MI always has, they will be a team to watch out for.”
With a settled core, proven match-winners and promising young players, Mumbai Indians appear well-positioned to mount another strong title defence in the TATA WPL 2026.
