IPL 2026: 3 Mumbai Indians players who might be benched for whole season

Mumbai Indians (MI) have one of the strongest squads heading into the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. They possess a very strong core of Indian internationals and excellent overseas talent to complement their domestic talent.

They are renowned for giving young players a chance in its ranks, providing them with a platform to showcase their talent. This year, however, things are looking extremely difficult for talented players to break into the side due to the quality up and down the border along with a very strong bench. However, doors are never locked for any player and they can easily feature for their franchise due to injuries or impressing during training and net sessions.

Here are 3 MI players who might be benched for entire IPL season:

3. Raj Bawa (Batting all-rounder)

Raj Bawa has played a total of five matches across two IPL seasons. This includes playing three times for MI in 2025, where he got to bat just once. 2026 might be a long season for Bawa on the sidelines, as MI's lower-middle order is occupied by superstar international players.

The likes of Mitchell Santner, in-form Will Jacks and captain Hardik Pandya are all in line to feature ahead of Bawa. There is also Naman Dhir amongst the ranks as MI’s Indian lower-order batter who has impressed a lot over the past two seasons at Wankhede Stadium.