Mumbai Indians, the five-time champions, have acted as one of the cornerstones of the Indian Premier League's emergence, thanks to their illustrious campaigns and campaigners who have represented the blue squad. But the same side finished the previous season at the bottom of the points table. Through the forthcoming auctions, many fanatics expect a comeback through a major restructuring. 

With the retention of their central pillars across all the departments (Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma), the management under the coaching guidance of Mahela Jayawardene will be eager to acquire such players that align to their objectives and fill the significant voids. That said, here we look at the top five names that the Mumbai Indians should go all for in the 2025 IPL Mega Auction, and the commonality between all the names is that all the suggested players have donned the blue jersey at least once. 

Trent Boult

Trent Boult should be among the first names on the top priority list of Mumbai Indians' mega auction game plan. Roping the Kiwi speedster will bolster the pace of the attack that Jasprit Bumrah has already helmed. Boult's athleticism on-field will also help the side in the most advantageous ways possible.

The 35-year-old left-arm pacer is one of the best bowlers of the contemporary era, known for his ability to take wickets with the new ball. He played well for his last team, the Rajasthan Royals, and was a vital bowler for the past three seasons. In 2024, he took 16 wickets in 16 matches with an economy rate of over eight. 

Yuzvendra Chahal

Yuzvendra Chahal, the star Indian leg-spinner, is the most successful bowler in IPL history. Chahal debuted in the IPL with MI in 2013 but quickly rose to prominence with RCB and RR. Overall, Chahal has become linked with consistency. Despite amassing mountains of wickets for RR over the previous three IPL seasons, the Sanju Samson-led club did not keep Chahal, and he will now be available in mega auctions, where MI might target him.

Overall, Chahal has become linked with consistency. MI has missed the presence of a great spinner over the previous three seasons, and Chahal can replace that need. In 2024, he has 18 wickets from 15 matches.  

Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler, the prominent English wicketkeeper batter, has already been a "hot topic" in the auction pool after being left off the Rajasthan Royals' retention list. Every club that participates is eager to have Buttler on their roster.

Buttler spent many seasons with the Mumbai-based squad under Rohit Sharma's supervision after making his IPL debut with MI in 2016. However, his long-term contributions to the inaugural winners have been immense, and his former team will dearly miss him in future editions. In just 11 matches, he has 359 runs and two three-digit mark numbers.  

Also Read: IPL 2025: 5 players Chennai Super Kings should target for in the upcoming mega auction

Nehal Wadhera

Nehal Wadhera appears to be one of the candidates whose side may exercise their only RTM (Right-to-Match) in the next auction. However, it is strongly recommended that the team go all-in for him, as this would assist them in aligning with their future chances.

The southpaw is adept at countering both spin and speed. He has a decent attitude and can be a floater anywhere in the lineup. The 24-year-old joined the organisation in 2023 and was impressed with his bat, strengthening the middle order. In 2024, he has played six games and scored 109 runs, which may appear modest but has a lot of potential beneath. 

Akash Madhwal

Akash Madhwal, a young Indian bowler who can take wickets at any point of the game, is usually a popular pick at the IPL mega auction. Madhwal has amazed everyone throughout his two seasons in Mumbai. He joined the franchise in 2023 and had an immediate effect.

In his first-ever IPL edition, he grabbed 14 wickets in eight games, the best of which was 5/5. His rapid pace may give some batters nightmares during vital game moments. As a result, Madhwal might be one of the players the Mumbai Indians use their RTM on in the blockbuster action, but they still should go for him. In his 2024 tenure, he got five wickets in five games. 

Against the Lucknow Super Giants, in the eliminator, Akash Madhwal came up with a performance that will leave him in the spotlight for a while. Often, performances such as his in the IPL instantly prope players into stardom, and Akash Madhwal is certainly heading their has he picked up the joint most economical figures, along with Anil Kumble.

From playing tennis ball cricket, he popped up out of nowhere suddenly bowling to Shubman Gill, and sending his stumps for a toss as Mumbai unearthed yet another fast bowler. Seasons ago, Jasprit Bumrah came up in the same manner. With an awkward action, he took on RCB and dismissed Virat Kohli, who was already a world-beater by then.

Into his first season, Madhwal has already produced two dream spells. The first against the Gujarat Titans, where he ran through the batting line-up as Mumbai defended a handsome score. A few weeks later, he turned hero in Chepauk as he ran through the Lucknow Super Giants taking five wickets and only conceding five runs.

Coming from Uttarakhand, Madhwal saw a lot of Rishabh Pant in his early days, as Rishabh Pant went on to make a name for himself in the big stage. In 2021, he spent time as a net bowler with Bangalore, bowling to the likes of Ab De Villiers and Virat Kohli, which is a dream come true for any aspiring fast bowler.

Having only played tennis ball cricket up until 2018, Akash Madhwal was very raw, and his fitness levels were in question, as the challenge of top level bowling could really weigh on the body. He worked on his fitness, spent some time with the talent scouts, and also played some first class cricket, and later caught the eye with his arm speed and change of pace.

With Suryakumar Yadav injured mid-way through 2022, Akash Madhwal got his chance in the squad, but did not make his debut last season. This season though, with Jofra Archer leaving mid-way and with Jasprit Bumrah already out, Rohit Sharma desperately needed someone to handle the back end.

They gave it a shot with the likes of Arjun Tendulkar and Riley Meredith, and in the end it was Akash Madhwal who proved that he has the ability to hold his own at the big stage. He’s made the record books, he has the best figures by a bowler in the playoffs, and now, teams will definitely be taking a note of him. The Gujarat Titans already have a measure of him, having lost a chunk of their top order to him in the previous encounter, and will come in prepared for their next battle.