Mumbai Indians' (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya will be one of the exciting players to watch out for in the season. The premier all-rounder had a decent run in the concluded T20 World Cup 2026. Riding on the confidence of historic triumph at the global stage, Hardik will look to continue scoring runs with the willow in the cash-rich league

Lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah is the second player to watch out for in the league. The pacer ended the T20 World Cup 2026 campaign as the joint-highest wicket-taker with 14 scalps. His contributions will be crucial for the Mumbai-based franchise in the upcoming edition of the league

All-rounder Mitchell Santner will also look to contribute with the willow and the ball. In the concluded global showpiece, he played an important role for New Zealand. It will be interesting to see if the 34-year-old cricketer manages to continue delivering performances in both departments

Veteran batsman Rohit Sharma, who will be returning to the game after a long gap, will be eager to showcase his skills with the willow. The right-handed batsman is also the second-highest run-scorer in the league's history. Having made 272 appearances in the tournament, Rohit has garnered 7046 runs, including two tons and 47 half-centuries

The "Paltan" will begin their IPL 2026 campaign by playing a clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai