Captain’s Sacrifice: Harmanpreet Kaur Puts Team First as Nat Sciver-Brunt Becomes MI’s Top Retention at Rs 3.5 Crore

In a decision that epitomizes selfless leadership, Mumbai Indians captain Harmanpreet Kaur—fresh from leading India to their maiden ODI World Cup title—personally requested the franchise to retain England all-rounder Nat Sciver-Brunt as their top pick (Rs 3.5 crore) ahead of herself (Rs 2.5 crore), sources told IANS, with Harmanpreet prioritizing team strength over personal recognition in a move that has drawn widespread praise from cricket experts.

The Surprising Retention Order

While the Mumbai Indians were expected to retain both Harmanpreet and Sciver-Brunt ahead of the WPL 2026 mega auction, the retention hierarchy stunned observers:

Nat Sciver-Brunt (England) - Rs 3.5 crore
Harmanpreet Kaur (India, Captain) - Rs 2.5 crore
Hayley Matthews (West Indies) - Rs 1.75 crore
Amanjot Kaur (India) - Rs 1 crore
G Kamalini (India, uncapped) - Rs 50 lakh

Harmanpreet’s Team-First Philosophy

Sources close to the matter revealed the captain’s thinking: "Harmanpreet wants to focus on having a great team for WPL 2026, and due to this, she decided that Nat would be MI’s first retained player while she’s the second pick for the franchise."

Former India cricketer Veda Krishnamurthy summarised Harmanpreet’s mindset perfectly: "Was it Rs 1 crore or Nat Sciver-Brunt in the team? Harmanpreet would have picked Nat. She always thinks for the team."

The Justification: Sciver-Brunt’s WPL 2025 Dominance

Nat Sciver-Brunt’s Player of the Tournament performance in WPL 2025 validated MI’s retention strategy:

WPL 2025 Statistics:

Runs: 523 (most for MI)
Matches: 10
Average: 65.37
Fifties: 5
Player of the Tournament Award

Harmanpreet’s WPL 2025 Numbers:

Runs: 302
Matches: 10
Average: 33.35
Fifties: 3

Despite Harmanpreet’s World Cup heroics (260 runs including 89 in semifinal), Sciver-Brunt’s franchise cricket dominance made her MI’s most valuable player statistically.

Expert Reactions: Consultation, Not Sacrifice

Former India cricketer Reema Malhotra confirmed that MI’s decision followed extensive consultation: "Yes, they would definitely have consulted her after winning the World Cup. There was a brief meeting before the team left for Delhi, and Harmanpreet attended it. This shows that the Mumbai Indians always make decisions after discussing with the captain. There must have been a conversation with Harman about Nat Sciver-Brunt being the first retention and her being the second. I don’t think this makes any difference to Harman. Her involvement in team-building is 100 per cent."

Former BCCI selector Saba Karim acknowledged the nuance: "She’s now a World Cup-winning captain and an inspirational leader. So I genuinely expected her to be the first retention. But Nat Sciver-Brunt has been outstanding over the last two to three seasons. I’m sure this decision was discussed with Harman beforehand, and once she was on board, the announcement was made."

Akash Ambani’s Statement

MI co-owner Akash Ambani praised the retention balance: "The retention process is always challenging because you’re making tough calls about extraordinary talent. We are happy about the combination we’ve retained - a captain who leads by example, proven international match-winners, and emerging Indian talent. Harman’s ability to get the best out of her teammates is invaluable, and with Nat, Hayley, Amanjot, and Kamalini, we have the perfect mix of aggression, skill, and temperament."

The Released Players

MI released 14 players including notable names:

Amelia Kerr (New Zealand all-rounder)
Yastika Bhatia (India wicketkeeper)
Saika Ishaque (India spinner)
Shabnim Ismail (South Africa pacer)
Pooja Vastrakar (India all-rounder)

Chloe Tryon (South Africa)

Nadine de Klerk (South Africa)

Auction Implications

With Rs 5.75 crore remaining purse and no RTM cards (having retained all five slots), MI must strategically target specific gaps at the November 27 mega auction in New Delhi.

The Cricket Standard