Preparations for the Indian Premier League 2026 are in full swing, and the Mumbai Indians camp recently shared a cheerful moment during training. Young Afghan cricketer Allah Ghazanfar celebrated his birthday with teammates as the squad continued its preparations for the new season.
The moment showed the positive atmosphere in the camp as players gathered together during training to celebrate the occasion.
Birthday Celebration at the Training Camp
The celebration took place during the Mumbai Indians practice session. Captain Hardik Pandya and other members of the team joined the moment as Ghazanfar marked his birthday with the squad.
The relaxed environment reflected strong team bonding before the tournament begins. Players and staff were seen sharing smiles as they wished the young spinner.
Ghazanfar is considered one of the promising young players in the squad, and the celebration highlighted the team’s support for emerging talent.
Ghazanfar Reacts to Kabul Air Strikes
Earlier in the week, serious incidents in Kabul drew strong reactions from Afghan cricketers. Ghazanfar shared an emotional message after deadly air strikes in the city that reportedly caused many casualties.
He expressed concern for the people affected and said such attacks on ordinary citizens should not be accepted. He also spoke about the need for peace and support from the global community.
Ghazanfar mentioned that Afghanistan values its relationship with India and hopes countries will work together to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Mumbai Indians Begin IPL 2026 Preparations
The Mumbai Indians camp officially began its preparations on March 16. Several players joined the first phase of training as the team started building combinations for the season.
Some players present in the early camp included:
| Player |
|---|
| Shardul Thakur |
| Mayank Markande |
| Allah Ghazanfar |
| Naman Dhir |
Soon after, senior players also joined the training sessions.
| Senior Players at Training |
|---|
| Rohit Sharma |
| Hardik Pandya |
| Jasprit Bumrah |
The team trained under head coach Mahela Jayawardene and bowling coach Lasith Malinga.
New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult also joined the camp and started practice with the squad.
Ghazanfar was bought by Mumbai Indians for ₹4.8 crore during the IPL 2026 auction and is expected to add depth to the team’s spin department.
Mumbai Indians IPL 2026 Schedule (Phase 1)
Mumbai Indians will start their IPL 2026 campaign with a home match against Kolkata Knight Riders.
MI Early IPL 2026 Fixtures
| Date | Match | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| March 29 | MI vs KKR | Mumbai |
| April 4 | MI vs DC | Delhi |
| April 7 | MI vs RR | Jaipur |
| April 12 | MI vs RCB | Mumbai |
The match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru on April 12 will be the final game of the first phase for Mumbai Indians.
Mumbai Indians Squad for IPL 2026
The team features a combination of experienced players and young talents.
| Players |
|---|
| Rohit Sharma |
| Suryakumar Yadav |
| Robin Minz |
| Sherfane Rutherford |
| Ryan Rickelton |
| Quinton de Kock |
| Danish Malewar |
| Tilak Varma |
| Hardik Pandya (C) |
| Naman Dhir |
| Mitchell Santner |
| Raj Angad Bawa |
| Atharva Ankolekar |
| Mayank Rawat |
| Corbin Bosch |
| Will Jacks |
| Shardul Thakur |
| Trent Boult |
| Mayank Markande |
| Deepak Chahar |
| Ashwani Kumar |
| Raghu Sharma |
| Mohammad Izhar |
| Allah Ghazanfar |
| Jasprit Bumrah |
Mumbai Indians will aim to combine their experienced core with fresh talent as they prepare for another competitive IPL season.
