Five-time Indian Premier League champions Mumbai Indians (MI) have officially kicked off their preparations for the 2026 season, beginning a pre-season training camp on Monday. The team, which reached the playoffs last year, is set to open its campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium.
A first group of players, including Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, Allah Ghazanfar, Naman Dhir, Raja Angad Bawa, Robin Minz, Raghu Sharma, Mayank Rawat, Danish Malewar, Mohammad Izhar, and Ashwani Kumar, reported for training on day one. The remainder of the squad, featuring senior stars like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and captain Hardik Pandya, is expected to join the camp in the coming days as preparations intensify.
MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene described the first day of pre-season as a key moment to set the tone for the entire campaign. “There’s always something special about the first day of pre-season. You see the players walk in, the energy builds, and the objective is to start strong,” he said. “Day one sets the tone for the entire campaign. We wanted everyone to feel the intent from the very first session, in how we train, how we prepare, and how we show up for each other.”
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The opening session focused on fitness and conditioning, with the strength and conditioning team putting players through structured drills, agility work, and performance assessments. Jayawardene highlighted the balance between welcoming new talent and integrating players who are familiar with the franchise’s culture. “We’ve got the boys who know this franchise inside out, and we have some exciting new faces coming in,” he added.
Mumbai Indians’ campaign begins just one day after the official start of the IPL 2026 season on March 28. The squad’s early preparation reflects the team’s focus on continuity and fitness, particularly as it looks to build on last season’s playoff performance.
With a combination of experienced players and promising newcomers, MI is aiming to regain the top spot in the highly competitive league. The team’s management has emphasized that these early sessions are crucial not just for physical readiness, but also for building cohesion and clarity of strategy ahead of the opening match.
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