Former India cricketer Reema Malhotra believes Mumbai Indians should aggressively target wicketkeeper-batter Sushma Verma at the Women's Premier League (WPL) 2027 auction, scheduled to be held in Kochi on 28 October, to address a persistent gap at the top of their batting order. Reema's assessment comes as Mumbai head into the mini-auction with a purse of just ₹1 crore, having retained a core group of 11 players led by captain Harmanpreet Kaur.

Mumbai's Opening Problem

Mumbai Indians missed the playoffs in WPL 2026 and have a clearly defined structural weakness: an unsettled opening combination. G. Kamalini, who opened alongside Hayley Matthews last season before Amelia Kerr was also trialled at the top, has since been released — and with her departure, Mumbai have lost their designated wicketkeeper-batter.

'Last season, G. Kamalini opened with Hayley Matthews, and then Amelia Kerr was tried as an opener as well. They kept changing their opening pair, and now they head into the auction looking to solve that,' Reema said in an interview with Jio Star.

Why Sushma Verma Makes Sense

Reema identified Sushma Verma as a solution that addresses two problems simultaneously — the opening slot and the wicketkeeping vacancy. She pointed to Verma's strong domestic season and her performances in the Women's Caribbean Premier League as evidence of readiness at the highest level. Significantly, Reema noted that Verma had already been called for trials by the Mumbai team management, raising the likelihood of a targeted bid.

'To solve the problem of an opening batter who can keep wickets, Mumbai Indians should go after Sushma Verma. She had an amazing domestic season with the bat and performed well in the Women's Caribbean Premier League too. Plus, she was called for trials by the MI team management, and I feel Mumbai is going to go big for Sushma Verma in the mini-auction,' Reema said.

Bowling Reinforcements: Tara Norris and the Indian Pacer Gap

Mumbai Indians have already moved to bolster their pace attack by trading USA left-arm pacer Tara Norris from UP Warriorz at her existing fee of ₹10 lakh. Norris, who was previously associated with MI London, holds the distinction of being the first bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in WPL history.

However, Reema cautioned against over-reliance on the American pacer. 'If Tara Norris picks up an injury or doesn't find that wicket-taking form, then Mumbai will be in trouble,' she said. She urged the franchise to also acquire a young Indian pacer capable of operating in the powerplay and at the death, to provide genuine bowling depth within their limited budget.

Mumbai also face a spinner-shaped hole after releasing Saika Ishaque, with Reema suggesting they look for a partner for Vaishnavi Sharma in the spin department.

Players Mumbai Are Likely to Back

Reema expressed confidence that all-rounder Amanjot Kaur — currently recovering from a back injury at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru — would retain her place, describing her as 'a three-dimensional player and someone who's not replaceable' after two standout WPL seasons.

She also highlighted S. Sajeevan Sajana, in whom Mumbai have invested over three consecutive years, as a likely retention in the playing XI. Meanwhile, Shweta Sehrawat, released by UP Warriorz after a productive domestic campaign, was flagged as another name on Mumbai's radar.

What to Watch at the Kochi Auction

With just ₹1 crore in their purse, Mumbai Indians face a delicate balancing act: plugging their opener-keeper void, reinforcing spin, and securing a pace backup — all within the tightest budget in the auction room. The WPL 2027 season is scheduled to run from 14 January to 7 February, leaving little margin for strategic missteps at the auction table.