Former Australia opener and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) legend Matthew Hayden believes that the Mumbai Indians (MI) could take a bold step ahead of the IPL 2026 mini-auction by releasing fast bowlers Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar, before attempting to re-sign them for a lower price.

Speaking on JioStar’s IPL 2026 Retention Preview, Hayden said this move could allow Mumbai to free up funds and strengthen their bench depth with more quality backups. The five-time IPL champions reached the playoffs last season, only to fall short against Punjab Kings in Qualifier 2.

“Mumbai Indians have a very balanced playing eleven, but they face some tough decisions. Trent Boult has been exceptional, taking 22 wickets last season and making a strong impact in the powerplay. However, with a ₹12.5 crore price tag, the management might consider releasing him, potentially allowing them to buy him back at a lower price. This could help them strengthen other areas of the squad while maintaining their core balance,” Hayden said.

He added that releasing and re-signing both Boult and Chahar could be a smart financial move: “If I were in their camp, I would consider releasing two bowlers—Boult and Chahar. It could free up funds to improve the overall squad depth.”

Boult enjoyed an excellent season, claiming 22 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 23.50, often striking early with the new ball. Chahar, however, endured a tough campaign, managing 11 wickets from 14 games at an average of 34.18 and an economy of 9.17, before an injury ruled him out of the knockout matches.

The deadline for announcing IPL 2026 retentions is November 15, with the mini-auction likely to take place on December 15 or 16.