How Mumbai Indians built a powerhouse XI even before the IPL 2026 auction began?

Five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians enter the IPL 2026 auction with the smallest purse — just ₹2.75 crore — yet they already possess a playing XI strong enough to challenge any team in tournament history. Thanks to clever pre-auction trades including Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, and Sherfane Rutherford, MI have added depth without disturbing their powerful core.